Zurich taxi association warns robotaxis could erase four in five jobs

Zurich’s taxi association warns that robotaxis could eliminate four in five taxi jobs within five years, but a mobility researcher told SRF he considers that an unlikely extreme scenario.

George Botonakis, president of the Zurich Taxi Association, told the NZZ that autonomous cars would transform the industry. He said he had given up his own taxi at the start of the year and warned: “There will be no more taxi drivers in five years.”

Waymo, the US market leader in robotaxis and a Google subsidiary, has opened an office in Zurich. Since September, robotaxis have also been carrying passengers in the Furttal, a region in the canton of Zurich. The service currently uses three electric cars, which can be booked daily between 1pm and 5pm.

According to figures cited by the NZZ, about 5,500 taxi drivers work in the canton of Zurich. Botonakis said those who want to stay in the profession will need to specialise and offer extra services, such as support for older people or premium service.

Left-wing members of Zurich’s city parliament have also asked the city government to examine how the introduction of robotaxis could be prevented or heavily regulated.

Thomas Sauter-Servaes, a mobility researcher, told SRF he doubted that robotaxis would replace drivers so quickly. Taxi demand varies widely throughout the day, with far more vehicles needed at peak times. It would be difficult for robotaxi operators to make a fleet sized for those peaks economical, he said, because the cars need to be used consistently.

Sauter-Servaes expects drivers to remain necessary for some time to cover peak demand. He also said some passengers may not want or be able to use robotaxis, including people who need help getting in and out of a vehicle or who are uncomfortable with a robot on wheels.