Uber is to take London’s transport authority to court over a decision to strip the taxi app of its operating licence.
Transport for London (TfL) refused to renew the firm’s licence last month on the grounds of ‘public safety and security implications’.
The Silicon Valley-based firm, which has taken over cities around the world, lodged an appeal against the decision today, firing the starting pistol on what could be a big-money legal battle.
The company said in a statement: ‘While we have today filed our appeal so that Londoners can continue using our app, we hope to continue having constructive discussions with Transport for London.
‘As our new CEO has said, we are determined to make things right.’
Uber has launched an appeal against a decision to ban it from operating in London
Uber’s new chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi met transport commissioner Mike Brown last week to discuss the firm’s future in the capital.
The talks were described by both sides as ‘constructive’.
TfL has a number of concerns about Uber, including its approach to reporting serious criminal offences, how drivers’ medical certificates are obtained, how criminal record checks are carried out, and its use of technology which allegedly helps it to evade law enforcement officials.
The app enables users to book cars using their smartphones and is available in more than 40 towns and cities across the UK.
Some 3.5 million passengers and 40,000 drivers use the service in London, according to Uber.
Mr Khosrowshahi took over at Uber in August after predecessor Travis Kalanick resigned following a series of scandals.
The new boss has apologised for ‘the mistakes we’ve made’ and accepted that the company had ‘got things wrong’.
Uber will challenge the licence decision ‘with the knowledge that we must also change’, he said.
More than 850,000 people have signed an online petition launched by Uber, urging TfL to reverse its ruling.