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Uber Expands Operations in Norway. New Cities Added to the Ride-Hailing Map
Uber has launched in Vestfold due to a noticeable increase in demand for the service in the region. stock.adobe.com/fot. agcreativelab/ tylko do użytku redakcyjnego
On June 25, the UberX service also became available to passengers in Sandefjord and Tønsberg. The launch of Uber rides in the two Vestfold cities is the result of a significant increase in demand in Norway. With this, the new cities join Oslo, Trondheim, Bergen, Stavanger, Ålesund, Fredrikstad, Drammen, Tromsø, Bodø, and Kristiansand.
"We have noticed high demand from residents of both cities and are pleased to offer our services in this area. Especially now, as summer approaches and both cities are expected to see a lot of activity," says Peter Löfstrand, head of Uber in the Nordic countries.
Uber has launched in Vestfold due to a noticeable increase in demand for the service in the region. According to Uber's official press release, the number of app openings and ride requests in cities where the service was not available has surged in recent months.
In practice, from June 25, residents of Sandefjord and Tønsberg can use the UberX service – ordered via the app, with a predictable price and automated payment.
Better than a taxi?
After the UberPOP service – which allowed private individuals without a license to transport passengers – was banned in Norway in 2017, the company withdrew from the market for several years. Only changes to Norwegian taxi laws, introduced in 2020, allowed Uber to return in a legal and regulated form.
Currently, the company operates under strictly defined regulations. Drivers using the platform must have a taxi license, run a business, meet technical standards for vehicles, and pay taxes in Norway. This means that Uber in Norway does not fundamentally differ from a classic taxi – except for the ordering method and a slightly more flexible operating model.