Uber has signed an agreement to acquire Crown Taxi, a major fleet dispatcher in Taiwan.

This deal reflects Uber’s efforts to increase its presence in the Taiwanese market.

The acquisition is pending regulatory approvals, which both companies will seek to finalize.

Uber plans to work with its drivers to improve services in the area.

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🔗 Source: Margarita Peker

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Uber’s global strategy shift from disruption to integration

The Crown Taxi acquisition represents Uber’s evolution from industry disruptor to strategic integrator in mature markets.

Crown Taxi has been a partner with Uber since 2017, utilizing Uber’s platform for driver dispatch before becoming an acquisition target in 2025, demonstrating a methodical progression from competition to collaboration to ownership 1.

This approach mirrors Uber’s strategy in other regions where initial market entry created friction with local taxi operators, followed by partnership models, and eventually deeper integration through acquisition.

The announcement explicitly states both companies will continue operating their passenger services independently post-acquisition, showing Uber’s strategy to maintain established local brands rather than forcing consolidation 2.

Taiwan represents one of the “most competitive digital ride-hailing markets globally,” according to Uber’s Taiwan GM Margarita Peker, making this strategic investment particularly significant for the company’s positioning in highly contested Asian markets 1.

2️⃣ Strategic value of operational taxi fleets in ride-hailing ecosystem

By acquiring Crown Taxi, Uber gains direct access to an established fleet dispatcher operational since 2011, demonstrating the continued relevance of traditional taxi infrastructure.

The acquisition specifically aims to “enhance the work experience for Crown Taxi drivers” while improving “access to Uber services for passengers in underserved areas,” highlighting the value of existing driver networks and dispatch capabilities 1.

Crown Taxi’s chairman Wu Chun-te directly referenced “new growth opportunities for the company and its drivers” as a key benefit, suggesting Uber sees value in combining technology platforms with established local operations 2.

This approach differs significantly from Uber’s earlier expansion model that primarily recruited individual drivers, showing a maturation in strategy that acknowledges the efficiency of acquiring existing fleet operations with regulatory compliance already established.

The deal structure, where both passenger services continue independently but with deeper integration, indicates Uber values Crown’s brand recognition and operational expertise within the Taiwanese market while seeking technological synergies 2.

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