Dimitri Pavlenko, edited by Sonia Chemaa 4:54 p.m., December 06, 2021

Laurine Serieys, Managing Director of Uber France, was the guest this Monday morning of the eco interview with Dimitri Pavlenko on Europe 1. On the occasion of 10 years, almost to the day, of the creation of Uber, the general manager takes stock of the evolution of this transport service in France.

INTERVIEW

Despite its setbacks, Uber remains on an upward slope.

Ten years after the arrival of this transport service in France, the number of followers has exploded.

And the figures are not to displease Laurine Serieys, general manager of Uber France for three years.

"Five million passengers use Uber today, compared to 14,000 in the first year. It is a rise which is indeed very strong."

On the driver side too, the figures are on the rise.

They are 30,000 active in France and 70,000 listed in the territory.

Uber, "it was an incredible job creation", welcomes Laurine Serieys.

The exam, a brake for drivers

However, job creation is limited because, while demand is not lacking, recruitment still faces a brake: examination.

"The exam to become a VTC driver is national. The police headquarters will issue you a VTC license, which is long and difficult to obtain. It takes more than a year today to become a VTC driver with a success rate which is relative" , explains the director general, who would like this examination to be "a little more flexible in order to allow the creation of more jobs".

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80% of drivers want to remain independent

Would French regulation then be too strict? For Laurine Serieys, having rules is "a good thing: being able to provide this license and being able to professionalize the profession of VTC has greatly pacified the debates." Even if one of them continues to rage: the status of the drivers. In other words, the fact that they are employees or self-employed. Recently in Great Britain, Uber recognized employee status for 70,000 British drivers. In France, by March 2022, professional elections will take place. They will allow drivers and delivery people to elect union representatives to, perhaps, change the legislation on this point.

"The debate exists in France too. The reality is that today, 80% of drivers wish to remain independent."

And the general manager added: "This economic model is extremely interesting because in reality, it allows a flexibility of the work which allows the independence (...) It is something which brings a lot of value and flexibility . "

Today, Uber is present in 24 French agglomerations, or more than 300 cities.