White taxi drivers turned down a proposal from ride-hailing app Careem to begin discussions about including them in the company’s fleet, Country Planning Director Haitham Nassar said yesterday, Al Mal reports. Cab drivers apparently believe that joining Careem’s fleet would put them at an unfair advantage and force them to bear administrative fees they would not have to pay otherwise, said the head of the White Taxi Association Mahmoud Abdel Hamid. The white cab ride-hailing service through Careem would be priced 25% lower than the company’s main service, Nassar said, however, adding that studies are ongoing to determine which Nile Delta cities to pilot the service in first. The Ride-hailing Apps Act — which was approved by the House of Representatives in May — requires ride-hailing companies to incorporate white taxis into their fleets.

They don’t want to integrate, they want to compete: It is also worth noting that this is the very same White Taxi Association that has not only attempted to snuff out the Ride-hailing Apps Act, but is also readying to launch its own competing ride-hailing app. This is more about competition than anything else.