Uber Taxi Vandalized In France Despite New Law Favoring Regular Cab Drivers

Uber Taxi Vandalized In France Despite New Law Favoring Regular Cab Drivers

Though a new French law gives cabs there a 15-minute head start against private companies like Uber and LeCab, taxi drivers are far from done protesting. Things may have just taken a violent turn, as an Uber car with a pair of Eventbrite execs aboard was just attacked on its way from a Paris airport. The culprits slashed two tires, dumped glue on the car and broke windows, which cut the hands of CTO Kat Borlongan, according to her tweet. She added that the Uber driver managed to maneuver out of harm's way before the attackers could enter the vehicle. There's no proof that taxi drivers were behind the attack, but Uber believes they're responsible, and there have been vehement protests in France by traditional cabbies who have paid enormous sums for their official permits and now feel that their livelihoods are being threatened by new car services. Meanwhile, there's a good chance the new "15-minute" law will be struck down anyway, according toRude Baguette. That's because the legislation was passed by presidential decree, meaning it's held to a higher anti-competition standard -- which it seems unlikely to meet.

Update: Uber has confirmed and "strongly condemned" the attack in a statement to Venture Beat (after the break).