Uber to relaunch ride-hailing services in Finland after yr-long suspension

Uber said it will relaunch its ride—hailing services in Finland following a year—long suspension, after a new transportation law came into effect this week.

The San Francisco—based company had suspended its operations in Finland last year, pending the imple-mentation of the new law.

“Those new regulations have now come into effect and so we’re delighted to relaunch in Helsinki today,” said Joel Jarvinen, Uber’s general manager for the Nordics.

Finland’s move overhauls what was previously a strictly regulated transport market and supports new business models, including digitisation and new technologies, the government’s transport ministry says on its website.

Uber drivers in the country had been facing possible criminal prosecution and hefty fines as part of a police crackdown against drivers who lack the required taxi permits.