Bolt received a declaration of war from the traditional transport organizing companies

By: Trademagazin Date: 2023. 08. 25. 11:07

In response to recent press reports, the BOLT HTX Kft. issued a statement emphasizing that it always operates in accordance with Hungarian and European Union legal regulations and fully cooperates with relevant authorities. This statement comes as a response to accusations made by a group of traditional taxi companies, namely Best Taxi, City Taxi, Go Taxi, and Taxi4, along with individual taxi entrepreneurs, referring to a previous judgment by the European Court of Justice. The accusations have ignited a new front in the ongoing taxi battle in Budapest that began almost two months ago.

The involved taxi companies argued that Bolt, an Estonian-backed service provider, operates in violation of the issued permits and regulations. Bolt, in its response to these serious allegations, affirmed its commitment to adhering to both Hungarian and EU legal frameworks and stated its cooperation with the relevant authorities.

Bolt HTX Kft. operates under a Dispatch Service License issued by the Budapest Capital Government Office, and it is also authorized by the Budapest Transport Center Zrt. as a transportation organizer to use the registered trademark indicating unrestricted use. The company is determined to take legal actions against any baseless, malicious, and repeatedly refuted press releases that harm its lawful operation and reputation.

The company highlighted its mission to simplify and enhance the taxi booking and travel process for potential passengers, aiming to make everyday life more convenient. Bolt continues to expand its application features according to user needs, such as estimating the time to reach the destination after entering it. This approach contributes to safer and more predictable taxi travel.

This situation echoes back to the events that triggered the ongoing taxi conflict in Budapest earlier this summer. In July, the National Taxi Association submitted a complaint to the Municipality of Budapest, challenging Bolt’s use of trademarks and advocating for fair competition with traditional taxi companies. However, it’s noteworthy that this move also hinted at the intention to curtail the Estonian-backed technology company’s presence in the market.

The current tension reflects the larger context of the taxi industry, with memories of the Uber protests in 2016 and the subsequent exit of Uber from the Hungarian market.