Guayaquil orders taxi service Cabify to end its operations in the city

The Guayaquil Municipal Transit Authority has ordered the international taxi service Cabify to end its operations in the city. The authority claims that the company is operating “informally” since it does not follow rules that apply to other taxi companies in the city.

A Cabify driver picks up a passenger in Guayaquil.

“Even if a personal transport service operates over the internet, with the use of cell phones and other connected devices, it must be legalized by the municipal rules,” the authority said on its social media accounts.

Guayaquil taxi companies have complained for months about Cabify and several incidents of violence against Cabify drivers and cars have been reported.

Cabify received a warning in August 2016 to comply with municipal operating rules but was allowed to continue operations.

In Latin America, Cabify operates legally in In Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Dominican Republic and Uruguay.