Uber Starts Operating in Playa del Carmen With No Clashes Reported Among Taxi Drivers

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Uber began operations in Playa del Carmen on October 20, in a municipality where the Lázaro Cárdenas del Río union had until then held the exclusive authorization to provide taxi service. A week later, municipal authorities reported that no incidents have been registered between taxi drivers and drivers working for the platform.

Luis Herrera Quiam, secretary general of the Playa del Carmen city government — who also heads the Lázaro Cárdenas del Río union — said officials hope Uber’s arrival will not create conflict but instead benefit the trade.

“This platform is a modern tool that taxi drivers can use to offer the service,” he said, adding that he is confident the app will help drivers rather than hurt them.

According to the official, a significant number of taxi drivers in Playa del Carmen already use the Uber platform to pick up passengers, and so far the arrangement has worked without problems.

Herrera Quiam said the city government will meet with the Quintana Roo State Mobility Institute after the Day of the Dead holiday to determine how many Uber vehicles will be allowed to operate in the municipality and to settle other details of the regulation. In the meantime, he said, municipal authorities are keeping watch for any possible friction between taxi drivers and app-based drivers.