Hamburg, March 16 – The taxi industry in Hamburg is grappling with the significant financial strain of soaring petrol and diesel prices. While oil companies enjoy flexible pricing, taxi operators in Hamburg are bound by fixed tariffs, forcing them to devise their own strategies to reduce costs. Andreas Wettlaufer, a taxi entrepreneur with 17 years of experience in Hamburg, shared his perspective on the ongoing crisis.
Fuel Prices Skyrocket, Impacting Taxi Businesses
Andreas Wettlaufer, 53, frequently checks his phone for fuel price updates. “It’s catastrophic how prices change, sometimes hourly,” Wettlaufer stated. He employs two people, and the fluctuating fuel prices, exacerbated by the Iran conflict, are jeopardizing his income. “This is a significant hit to the wallets of small taxi companies like ours,” he remarked, estimating a potential loss of up to 500 euros in net profit per month.
Minimum Wage Adds to Financial Burden
Jan Weber, board member of Hansa-Funktaxi Genossenschaft, confirmed the severe impact on the industry. He highlighted that alongside rising fuel costs, the increased minimum wage, effective since the beginning of the year, further burdens employers like Wettlaufer.
Weber sees little room for maneuver regarding fuel prices due to Hamburg’s mandatory tariff system for taxis. This means that higher fuel costs cannot be directly passed on to customers.
Fixed Fares and Discount Corridors
Since early 2025, the base fare for a taxi ride in Hamburg is 4.50 euros. The per-kilometer rate is 2.70 euros for the first nine kilometers, and 2 euros thereafter. Fixed prices can also be agreed upon in advance. A tariff corridor allows for discounts of up to 20 percent to stimulate demand. While Hansa-Funktaxi has not adopted this, platforms like Uber, Bolt, and Freenow have. Weber noted that Uber is currently offering the maximum discount.
“Changing tariffs is a complex process and cannot be adjusted daily. Perhaps it’s not even necessary,” Weber added. However, he proposed solutions to alleviate the burden on the taxi industry: “Measures like reducing energy or CO2 taxes would relieve taxi entrepreneurs and could be implemented quickly.”
Electric Cars Not a Viable Option for Many
Wettlaufer was more direct, stating, “The CO2 tax is utopian; the state should suspend it now.” While acknowledging the need for climate protection, he criticized the rushed implementation. He also pointed to the regulation in Hamburg that, since last year, only electric vehicles can be newly registered as taxis. “Many entrepreneurs cannot switch so quickly because they are still paying off their current vehicles,” he explained.
While Weber considers e-taxis a medium-term solution, Wettlaufer openly expressed his dislike. “For me, they are not cars. I’m old-school. They are electric vehicles. And they don’t have horsepower, but kilowatt-hours. I have horsepower,” he said, reminiscing about the classic engine sound and vibration.
He is not alone in his aversion. Mehdi Fathi Farimani, an e-taxi driver, would immediately switch back to a diesel vehicle if permitted. Waiting for customers outside the Elysée Hotel near Alster, he primarily cited the lack of charging infrastructure as a major issue, stating he would even accept higher fuel prices for a diesel car.
Little Hope for New Fuel Price Regulations
Fuel prices are expected to remain high, despite the federal government releasing part of its national crude oil reserves and Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) announcing new fuel regulations. These regulations would allow petrol stations in Germany to increase prices only once a day, while price reductions would be permissible at any time.
Wettlaufer expressed little to no hope for these new rules. “Then, of course, the highest price will always be set, which is also bad. You can always go down, but only up once, and then they will always stay at the highest level. That’s also stupid,” he argued.
Drivers Implement Fuel-Saving Strategies
Wettlaufer and his colleagues have their own strategies, including fuel-efficient driving techniques like using the start-stop automatic system. “Even though it annoys me when the car always turns off at the traffic light,” Wettlaufer admitted. He also uses cruise control and drives less aggressively.
Then there’s the refueling strategy. “If it’s particularly cheap, I fill up the tank completely. And if the price is high, I only refuel for 20 euros.” He and his colleagues also know the cheaper petrol stations. If none are nearby, Wettlaufer relies on his fuel app.
The current situation reflects a broader energy crisis, with Germany releasing emergency oil reserves to stabilize the market. Hamburg’s freight forwarders are advocating for reforms rather than price caps to address the high fuel costs.
This topic was covered on NDR Fernsehen | NDR Info | 16.03.2026 | 15:00 Uhr.
