London (AFP)

The Uber chauffeur-driven car reservation company retains the right to practice in London for 18 months, a British court ruled on Monday, examining its appeal against the City of London's decision to suspend its license.

The world number one in the sector, which has 45,000 drivers and more than 3.5 million customers in the British capital, confirmed in a statement the duration of his new license, which comes with conditions.

A judge at the London Westminster Magistrates Court ruled that Uber was now fit to practice in the British capital, "despite shortcomings in the past".

The London Transport Authority (TfL) had revoked this permit last November for security reasons, but the platform continued to operate normally pending the court ruling.

The TfL had estimated in particular that the computer system did not make it possible to prevent thousands of drivers without a license from taking charge of passengers fraudulently.

Uber, whose image has suffered from cases of sexual assault by a driver on passengers, had assured him that he had since made the necessary changes to resolve various problems.

The platform has implemented real-time driver identity verification in the UK.

It has also been trying for several years to reassure its customers, for example with the introduction of an "emergency button" or a telephone line to report problems.

Judge Tan Ikram explained in his ruling on Monday that Uber was not contesting the TfL's finding so much but rather the fact that the authority believed the platform had not taken security concerns seriously.

He considered that Uber "now seems to be at the forefront in the sector" to make its services more secure and has made the necessary efforts.

“This decision is a recognition of Uber's commitment to safety and we will continue to work constructively with TfL,” the platform said without its release.

- Status of drivers -

The association of taxi drivers was carried away against the court decision described as a "disaster", believing that the changes implemented by Uber are only window dressing.

This is not the first legal battle between Uber and London.

Already in September 2017, the British capital had deprived the American giant of its license for security reasons, but Uber had continued to practice in London before a victory in June 2018 before a court of appeal which had granted it a license to fifteen months.

The TfL then renewed the license in September 2019 but for only two months before withdrawing it in November.

Uber is also awaiting another court decision in the United Kingdom, that of the British Supreme Court.

The latter must say soon whether it recognizes the status of employee to the drivers of the platform, which Uber is opposed to.

Uber had seized the highest authority of British justice after losing an appeal in late 2018, following a previous defeat of the American company at first instance in November 2017.

The victory obtained on his right to practice in London is a brightening for the Californian platform in a very dark sky due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It had reported a net loss of $ 1.8 billion in the second quarter, with revenue plummeting due to containment measures and the cancellation of most events and travel.

Uber laid off about a quarter of its employees in the spring and shut down operations in many countries to save money.

And for the first time in its history, meal deliveries, through its Uber Eats subsidiary, brought in more money than trips with drivers in the quarter.

© 2020 AFP