Tallinn's taxi services now predominantly app-based
Traditional taxis account for only about 5% of the market in Tallinn, while platform-based operators dominate the sector.
Taxi services in Tallinn are now predominantly offered through information technology platforms, with the market share of traditional taxis at around just 5 percent, according to the Tallinn Transport Department.
There are currently 3,093 companies and sole proprietors licensed to provide taxi services in the capital. However, the number of driver service cards issued is more than four times higher – over 13,000 cards have been issued in the Tallinn area over the past 11 years. Since these cards do not expire, it is impossible to determine how many holders are currently active.
This year, 264 driver service cards have been issued in Tallinn, compared to 362 during the same period last year, which ended with a total of 708 cards. Kristjan Haljasoks, chief specialist for taxi licenses at the Tallinn Transport Department, noted that the Public Transport Act does not require drivers to have proficiency in Estonian, and many foreign nationals have applied for these cards in recent years.
Among platform-only taxi service providers, Bolt holds the largest market share at about 70 percent. Among traditional operators, Forus Takso has the largest share, though it also operates through a mobile app. According to Tiit Isop, a member of the management board of Forus Takso, the company is more prominent in the traditional market – at the airport, port, hotels, and via telephone bookings.
Isop believes that without aggressive price cuts by a competitor, the market is unlikely to see major changes in the near future. Instead, the focus may shift toward improving quality of service.
