Overview
- Cologne implemented the measure on Monday, June 1, capping Mietwagen fares at no more than 20 percent below the city’s regulated taxi rates and raising the taxi kilometer tariff from €2.60 to €2.90.
- The city applied the cap through an Allgemeinverfügung that links dynamic app prices to the local public‑transport classification of taxis so Mietwagen cannot undercut fixed fares by large margins.
- Alexander Mönch, Freenow’s Germany chief, welcomed the step and urged a federal minimum‑fare framework to stop what he called ruinous price dumping by platforms such as Uber and Bolt.
- Max Zombek of the Mietwagen association wirfahren said the cap removes needed price flexibility and risks excluding price‑sensitive riders who rely on cheaper app fares.
- Legal uncertainty remains after the Administrative Court of Gelsenkirchen suspended Essen’s similar rule in April, so Cologne’s order is likely to face court challenges and could accelerate calls for national regulation.