Taxito, the Bern-based ride-sharing company, will cease all operations by the end of this year. The company cites a challenging financial situation and a lack of future prospects as primary reasons for its closure. This decision marks the end of a unique mobility service that aimed to connect citizens through spontaneous shared rides.
Key Takeaways
- Taxito, a Bern-based ride-sharing service, will close permanently by the end of 2024.
- Financial difficulties and a lack of future growth opportunities led to the decision.
- The service mediated approximately 8,000 rides in 2024.
- COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted passenger and driver behavior, causing a decline in demand.
- The company also notes a societal shift away from community solidarity and the rise of advanced technologies like AI and autonomous vehicles as contributing factors.
Operating Model and Service Areas
Taxito's system relied on a simple and accessible method for arranging spontaneous rides. Passengers used a QR code or SMS at designated roadside stops to communicate their desired destination. This information then appeared on digital displays at the stops.
Drivers passing by could then pick up the passenger without prior registration, dropping them off at their destination for a small fee. This model emphasized community support, allowing citizens to help each other with transport needs.
Fact Check
- Taxito first launched its ride-sharing system in 2015 as a pilot project in the Luzern hinterland.
- Currently, the service operates networks in several Swiss regions, including Seetal AG/LU, Freiamt AG, the Chur GR region, and Trub BE.
- In 2024, Taxito facilitated around 8,000 rides across its active networks.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
The company experienced significant growth and popularity before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the global health crisis severely affected its operations. According to Taxito, success plummeted during the pandemic and never fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels.
The pandemic led to substantial changes in both passenger and driver behavior. People became more hesitant to share enclosed spaces, and travel patterns shifted. This altered behavior directly contributed to the company's ongoing financial strain.
"The success collapsed during the pandemic and never reached its previous height," Taxito stated in its announcement. "Due to changes in behavior among passengers and drivers, the financial situation has been tense ever since."
Shifting Societal Values and Technological Challenges
Beyond the pandemic's immediate effects, Taxito also identified broader societal changes as factors in its closure. The company noted a decrease in the importance of themes such as ecology and social cohesion. The core idea behind Taxito was community-driven mutual aid.
Martin Beutler, CEO and Chairman of the Board for the two-person operation, emphasized this original vision. "The citizen helps the citizen," Beutler told the Keystone-SDA news agency, describing the essence of the Taxito concept.
Broader Context
The mobility sector is undergoing rapid transformation. New technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and self-driving vehicles are reshaping how people travel. Large, financially powerful multinational corporations are investing heavily in these areas, creating a highly competitive landscape.
These trends pose a significant challenge for smaller, community-focused services like Taxito, which rely on a different operational model.
Future Outlook and Competitive Landscape
Taxito believes that future technological developments, including AI and autonomous driving, work against its system. The company expressed doubts about its ability to offer a competitive and viable solution in the long term.
Financially strong multinational companies are poised to revolutionize the mobility world in the coming years. This competitive pressure means that Taxito AG does not foresee itself realistically offering a future-proof solution.
Beutler confirmed that there is no mid-term perspective for Taxito. The company's unique approach, while successful for a time, could not overcome these combined pressures. The closure represents a shift in local mobility options and highlights the difficulties smaller enterprises face against larger industry trends.
The company's decision underscores the challenges faced by innovative, community-focused services in an evolving market driven by major technological advancements and changing consumer habits. The end of Taxito will impact the communities it served, removing a spontaneous ride-sharing option for thousands of users.
- The company operated in regions such as Seetal AG/LU and Freiamt AG.
- Its system allowed passengers to signal their destination via QR-code or SMS.
- Drivers could pick up passengers without prior arrangements.