Uber has hailed accelerating growth in the UK following a landmark victory over black cab drivers. The minicab app’s British turnover increased more than tenfold last year to £11.3m, according to accounts filed at Companies House. The figure reflects only Uber’s share of fares for trips booked via its service – at least 70pc of payments go straight to the self-employed drivers. Uber, which is backed by major investors including Google and Goldman Sachs, also moved into the black in the UK for the first time, posting a pre-tax profit of nearly £900,000, compared with a loss of £337,000 in 2013. It paid £22,000 in corporation tax. The Silicon Valley-based company entered the UK in 2012, beginning in London, and has rapidly expanded to employ more than 100 staff and cover major cities across the country. A spokesman said: “We’re a young company that’s investing heavily to expand. “We’re a significant net contributor to the local economy everywhere we go, creating new opportunities for thousands of professional drivers. "The lion’s share of every fare stays local. And unlike the cash-in-hand past of this industry, we only take card payments so every fare is traceable and transparent.” The growing popularity of Uber has been confirmed as the company celebrates a victory over black cab drivers, who allege it illegally operates metered taxis. The High Court on Friday rejected the claim, ruling that the service was not a metered taxi because fares are calculated by Uber’s central systems rather than inside vehicles. The decision was a boost in the company’s battles with regulators and traditional taxi drivers around the world.
After Uber’s landmark victory over black cab drivers on Friday, there is more good news for the ride-hailing app: UK sales have risen tenfold in the past year. The company said it had sold a record £2.3bn worth of rides last year, up from £1.1bn in 2016. The app’s accelerating growth also brings its first UK profit, with pre-tax profits hitting £900,000, after reporting a loss of £337,000 in 2013.