On-Demand Services: BVDW sees draft "far behind requirements"

The Federal Association of Digital Economy (BVDW) has sharply criticized the amendment to the Passenger Transport Act (PBefG) in a statement and linked this with an urgent appeal to the government to enable new digital mobility. While "regulatory relief" for taxis and rental cars was still promised in the coalition agreement, the BVDW is disillusioned with the current draft bill for the modernization of the Passenger Transport Act.

"The draft bill from the BMVI reveals the government's lack of willingness to reform," criticizes Achim Himmelreich, Vice President of the BVDW.

Maik Böres, Chairman of the Connected Mobility Focus Group in the BVDW, is also unimpressed:

"The draft falls far short of the requirements for forward-looking mobility change."

Private Sector Feels Disadvantaged

The disappointment is due to new reporting and approval requirements as well as additional price regulations in the rental car sector. There are no signs of relief. Municipal providers and the taxi industry continue to be favored over private mobility, which, it is said, is neither sustainable nor economical in terms of the environment and end consumers. For example, the obligation to return rental cars to the central office remains in place. The so-called empty runs were previously criticized by the BVDW as being harmful to the climate. Furthermore, the captured data must be comprehensively shared according to the new draft. Whether a hearing of associations at the Federal Ministry for Transport and Digital Infrastructure will enable further adjustments remains to be seen.