Australian Taxi Industry Association calls UberX 'cheap copies' of taxis

The taxi industry in Australia has hit out at Uber by terming its UberX service "cheap copies" of taxis in the latest round of attacks on the taxi-hailing service.

A statement released by the Australian Taxi Industry Association (ATIA) trashed claims that it is anti-competitive and has influenced governments to stand in the way of ride-sharing services as "complete fiction," reported News.com.au.

ATIA chief executive officer Blair Davies said that ride-sharing services were illegal as they refused to operate with properly licensed drivers or use properly licensed vehicles. He added that they were "imitation taxi services," just like many "cheap copies or fakes" that resort to shortcuts on things that are invisible to consumers.

UberX, which is quite popular in Australia's capital cities, provides a point-to-point ride-sharing service where private individuals use their own cars to drive passengers for a fee.

The alternative mode of transport has fast gained popularity in the country because of its cheaper prices, cashless payments, GPS technology that allows cars to be tracked, open feedback system and good customer service.

However, the service has failed to abide by Australian laws, with drivers in NSW and Victoria copping fines and being brought before the courts for breaking passenger transport legislation, which requires drivers and vehicles to be licensed.