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Uber ban in Germany adds to troubles in Europe

Uber has been banned by a German court from offering its ridesharing service nationwide, adding to the company's troubles in Europe. Uber also has hit trouble in the Netherlands, Spain and France, which has effectively banned its service

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Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters/File
The logo of car-sharing service app Uber on a smartphone next to the picture of an official German taxi sign in Frankfurt.
  • By Staff Associated Press

| Berlin

A German court has banned Uber from offering its ridesharing service nationwide, adding to the company's troubles in Europe.

Frankfurt state court spokesman Arne Hasse said the ruling banning the UberPop service from offering rides with drivers who don't have taxi permits was issued Wednesday. The ruling can be appealed.

The ruling stems from a suit brought against Uber by a German taxi association, which was heard in Frankfurt because it is one of several German cities where Uber launched operations.

The court issued an injunction banning Uber from operating last summer but lifted it a few weeks later, saying that while it considered Uber'spractices illegal an emergency injunction wasn't justified.

Uber also has hit trouble in the Netherlands, Spain and France, which has effectively banned its service.

It was the second bit of difficult news for Uber this week.  Sunday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Uber Technologies Inc's Chief Financial Officer Brent Callinicos is stepping down, citing an email from the online taxi service's CEO.

Callinicos, a former Google Inc executive, will be an advisor to Uber. No replacement has been named yet, Chief Executive Travis Kalanick told investors in the email, the Journal said.

"Brent has done a wonderful job here at Uber but has decided that it is time for his next journey, one where his wife and daughter take the front seat," Kalanick wrote in the email, which was reviewed by the financial daily. 

Callinicos, who joined Uber in 2013, served as treasurer and chief accountant at Google. 

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