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Could Uber and London's black cabs finally merge lanes?

Hello and you're listening to the Marketplace Morning Report

live from the BBC World Service.

I'm Leanna Byrne and a very good morning to you.

In 2012, Uber shock up the UK's taxi scene, causing a stir with one of the world's most recognizable taxi fleet

London's Black Cabs. Black cab drivers blockaded the city streets in 2014 to

protest against what they argued was a lack of proper regulation for app-based operators.

Now, surprisingly, Uber says it will open up its platform to London's Black Labs early next year.

My colleague Will Bain has been finding out more about the plans from Andrew Brem, the UK General Manager of Uber.

As of next year, Londoners will be able to request a black cab on the Uber app.

And in fact, as of this morning, the first black cab driver on the They absolutely use apps now, the vast majority use apps, and when we spoke to them, the majority

were open to using the Uber app. I think Times moved on, it really has done. We turned a page

as Uber many years ago now, and I think this is the time to rekindle a partnership

with black cab drivers and look London is in fact unusual for Uber in that respect so

there are 33 countries around the world where taxis are on the Uber app.

...