Haxi Explained

Haxi Ltd.
Type:Private company
Industry:Vehicle for hire, Sharing economy
Hq Location City:London
Hq Location Country:United Kingdom
Products:Mobile app, Fashion accessory
Haxi Apps
Haxi Apps
Author:Joonas Kirsebom, Simon Lund
Released:[1]
Latest Release Version:1.12
Operating System:Android, iOS
Programming Language:Java, Objective-C
Platform:Web, Android, iOS
Size:2.84 MB
Language:English, Spanish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Language Count:5
Genre:App, instant messaging, Vehicle for hire, transportation

Haxi (stylized as HAXI) is a vehicle for hire company that enables users to share transport over short and mid range distances. The name is a portmanteau of "hack" and "taxi". Registered users can be drivers, passengers, or both. Drivers active for more than three days per month need an access pass or a subscription plan. Unregistered users cannot get contact details on other users. No registration is needed to logon. The firm's mobile application facilitates transportation by enabling passengers who need a ride to request one from available "community drivers."

History

Haxi was incorporated by Aleksander Soender, Joonas Kirsebom and Robert Daniel Nagy in February 2014. The service was launched as a web app in Stavanger, Norway December 2013. Applications for Android and iPhone was released in March 2014. Haxi is available in English, Spanish, Norwegian, Swedish and Danish. The company is based in London, Great Britain. Angel investor funding for Haxi was secured in June 2014.[2] [3]

Since December 2013,[4] Haxi has grown to the biggest ridesharing network in Norway. In June 2014, it was estimated that 11,000 Norwegians were using Haxi.[5] By August 2014, that number has risen to 31,000 users with over 2,000 registered drivers in Norway alone.[6]

In September 2014, Haxi surpassed 3,000 registered drivers, and has 42,000 users, with 72% using the app more than once. At this growth rate, Haxi is expected to become bigger than the whole Norwegian taxi force combined by December 2014.[7] [8] Haxi is mentioned as one of the most interesting companies in the ridesharing market Worldwide.[9] [10] In June 2014, Norwegian Taxi Association CEO, Lars Hjelmeng, estimated that ridesharing via Haxi and social media is generating up to one billion NOK (Norwegian Krone) annually.[11] In March 2017 the total number of active drivers on Haxi passed the 10.000 mark in Scandinavia.[12]

Products

HaxiStar

The HaxiStar - Explorer Version is an electronic roof top sign and light designed by Lars Holme Larsen from Kilo Design in collaboration with Haxi.[13] The lightning device is inspired by a mix of the traditional taxi top sign and gadgets like the Little Tree/Wunderbaum air freshener. It has multiple placement options; roof, dashboard, and rear mirror. The light is controlled by a simple remote control with two settings; pulsing for waiting and steady light for available. HaxiStar was tested among drivers in Norway and Denmark throughout 2016. Haxi drivers with a subscription plan get the HaxiStar device for free.[14]

Business Model

Haxi operates under a freemium business model (basic services are free, while additional features for drivers are offered via access passes and paid subscriptions). Haxi makes its revenues by selling access passes and subscriptions to drivers.

Paid products are currently only active within selected geographical areas.

Accounts and subscriptions

As of February 2018, the three Haxi access passes and subscription types, all offering unlimited access, are:

!Products!Network access!Type
Free3 days/monthFreemium
24hrs24 hours + 3 daysAccess pass
48hrs48 hours + 3 daysAccess pass
MonthlyUnlimited accessSubscription

Controversy

Norway

Since Haxi officially launched in December 2013, there has been much media attention on the topic of illegal taxicab operation in the Norwegian press.[15] [16] [17] [18] [19]

On March 9, 2014, local taxi drivers drove two students from Stavanger to Copenhagen for free as a protest against Haxi.[20]

On August 28, 2014, the Norwegian Taxi Association and taxi operator I-taxi notified the police about a Haxi user for unlicensed taxi operation. The case was later dropped by the police in Grimstad.[21]

On October 7, 2014, the Norwegian Transport Worker Association notified the police in Oslo about Haxi for operating an unlicensed taxi operation.[22] [23] A week later, on October 13, 2014, the police in Oslo informed the Norwegian Transport Worker Association that the case against Haxi was dropped.[24]

From September to November 2014, undercover agents from Stavanger Police booked several rides from Haxi drivers. In December 2014, investigators began to interview drivers and fine them for 8.000 NOK and three months confiscation of the car for breaking the Yrketransportlov.[25] On December 17, 2014, Stavanger Police published a press release saying 3 of 8 Haxi users were official taxi drivers using the service for spontaneous ridesharing.[26] Haxi advised all drivers to decline the fine and offered all drivers financial and legal support to test the case in court. Three Haxi drivers accepted this offer from Haxi and declined to pay the fines.[27]

On May 11, 2015, the trial started against three drivers from the Haxi community in the Stavanger District Court (Tingrett). The three drivers were granted legal aid by the judge because of the principle which is rare in administrative law cases.[28] Main discussion points between the prosecutor, police lawyer, Stian Eskeland and the defendant Torbjørn Kolås Sognefest from Advokatfirmaet Elden were police entrapment, the taxi law Yrketransportloven, double jeopardy, and the definition of public space.[29]

On May 20, 2015, the three Haxi drivers accused of breaking the Norwegian taxi law Yrketransportloven were acquitted by three concurring judges in the Stavanger District Court.[30] Stavanger Police lost the case against the three Haxi drivers because prosecutor Stian Eskeland could not convince the judges that the Haxi app was part of public space. Spontaneous ridesharing via Haxi was announced legal in local media.[31] [32]

On June 2, 2015, the prosecutor Stian Eskeland from the Stavanger Police announced that they have appealed the acquittal of the three Haxi drivers to the Gulating Court of Appeal (Lagmannsrett).[33] [34]

On February 11, 2016, the appeal trial started in the Gulating Court of Appeal in Stavanger Norway against the three Haxi drivers who were acquitted by the Stavanger District Court in May 2015.[35]

On February 15, 2016, the three Haxi drivers were acquitted by the seven concurring judges in Gulating Court of Appeal.[36]

February 29, 2016, Stavanger Police announced the case was appealed for the Supreme Court of Norway.[37] on April 5, 2016, the Supreme Court of Norway accepted the appeal by the Norwegian Prosecuting Authority.[38]

In June 2016, The Supreme Court of Norway ruled that the Haxi app could not be considered a "public place", and that thus, using Haxi cannot be considered illegal based on the transport law that prohibits offering person transport on a public place.[39]

In June 2017, the three drivers received compensation for unjustified prosecution from Statens Sivilrettsforvaltning [40]

Denmark

In June 2014, Haxi drivers started appearing in Denmark.[41] On the July 10, 2014, the Danish Transport Authority notified the police about Haxi for operating an unlicensed taxi service.[42] [43]

On July 29, 2014, Haxi requested the Danish Transport Authority to revoke the note to the police.[44]

March 21, 2016, Danish Police announced all Haxi investigations were cancelled.[45] [46]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Haxi - iOS Store Store Top Apps | App Annie . 2015-02-12 . 2015-02-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150212035218/http://www.appannie.com/apps/ios/app/721790330/ . live .
  2. News: 11.000 nordmænd bruker allerede pirattaxi app . mobilen.no . June 16, 2014 . Oftebro . Ida . June 26, 2014 . June 17, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140617080935/http://www.mobilen.no/artikler/11-000-nordmenn-bruker-allerede-pirattaxi-app/160907 . live .
  3. News: Controversial App Haxi lingers in the grey zone of Taxipiratism . ArcticStartup . August 18, 2014 . Lemarchand . Rafael . August 18, 2014 . August 21, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140821015105/http://arcticstartup.com/2014/08/18/controversial-app-haxi-lingers-in-the-grey-zone-of-taxipiratism . live .
  4. News: Dette er uten tvil ulovlig virksomhet . NRK.NO . December 19, 2013 . Grimen . Bjørn . July 11, 2014 . July 17, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140717035639/http://nrk.no/rogaland/_-dette-er-uten-tvil-ulovlig-1.11427897 . live .
  5. News: 11 000 nordmenn bruker allerede pirattaxi-app . Mobilen.no . June 16, 2014 . Oftebro . Ida . June 26, 2014 . June 17, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140617080935/http://www.mobilen.no/artikler/11-000-nordmenn-bruker-allerede-pirattaxi-app/160907 . live .
  6. News: Mens vi venter på fremtiden . Aftenposten . August 17, 2014 . Aldridge . Øystein . August 18, 2014 . August 18, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140818205254/http://www.aftenposten.no/okonomi/Mens-vi-venter-pa-fremtiden-7668080.html . live .
  7. News: Tror denne appen vil bli større enn alle Norges taxier i år . Mobilen.no . September 4, 2014 . Oftebro . Ida . September 5, 2014 . September 5, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140905150417/http://www.mobilen.no/artikler/tror-denne-appen-vil-bli-storre-enn-alle-norges-taxier-i-ar/163175 . live .
  8. Web site: Archived copy . 2014-09-05 . 2014-09-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140905171308/http://www.transportloyve.no/STATIST.ASP . live .
  9. News: Five Companies that are Trying to Compete with Uber . Worthly.com . September 23, 2014 . Krom . Derrick . September 29, 2014 . October 21, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141021212749/http://worthly.com/business/five-companies-trying-compete-uber/ . live .
  10. News: Can Ride Sharing Provide An Uber-Lyft To Your Income . Money Talks News . November 12, 2014 . Freedman . Donna . November 14, 2014 . November 14, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141114185153/http://www.moneytalksnews.com/can-ride-sharing-provide-uber-lyft-your-income/ . live .
  11. Web site: Archived copy . 2014-09-20 . 2014-09-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140924051815/http://www.taxiforbundet.no/sfiles/45/13/2/file/taxi_4-2014-web.pdf . dead .
  12. News: Transport-dele-tjenesten Haxi øjner hul i markedet efter Ubers farvel: "Vi ser en kæmpe-mulighed i både København og resten af Danmark" . Computerworld . March 29, 2017 . Ø. Wittorff . Jacob . July 11, 2014 . July 14, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714141028/http://www.nrk.no/rogaland/40-mil-med-taxidugnad-1.11593286 . live .
  13. News: Haxi kick off testing phase for the HaxiStar Explorer – A new transport-sharing device designed by Kilo. Kilo Design. May 2, 2016. Larsen. Lars Holme. September 11, 2017. September 11, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170911210332/http://kilodesign.dk/haxi-launches-haxistar-explorer-transport-sharing-device-designed-kilo/. live.
  14. News: Skjerper kampen om drosjekundene. Dagsavisen. August 12, 2017. Gilje. Caroline Teinum. August 30, 2017. August 30, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170830195349/http://www.dagsavisen.no/rogalandsavis/skjerper-kampen-om-drosjekundene-1.1008323?paywall=true. live.
  15. News: Taxinæringen går sterkt ut mot Haxi . NRK . March 26, 2014 . Iren Villalobos . Rosa . June 26, 2014 . June 20, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140620070248/http://www.nrk.no/rogaland/taxisjaforer-raser-mot-haxi-1.11632182 . live .
  16. News: Norsk taxinæring raser over "kompiskjøring" . Aftenposten.no . June 18, 2014 . Sjøberg . Jeanette . June 26, 2014 . June 23, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140623124047/http://www.aftenposten.no/okonomi/Norsk-taxinaring-raser-over-kompiskjoring-7606881.html#.U7_U5P2QND5 . live .
  17. News: Haxi bryter ikke norsk lov . . February 6, 2014 . Kydland . Andreas . June 26, 2014 . July 14, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714182501/http://sandnesposten.no/index.php?page=vis_nyhet&NyhetID=7681 . live .
  18. News: Taxinæringen føler seg snytt av kompiskjøring . . February 6, 2014 . Kydland . Andreas . June 26, 2014 . July 14, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714144417/http://sandnesposten.no/index.php?page=vis_nyhet&NyhetID=7680 . live .
  19. News: Politiet advarer pirattaxisjåfører . . February 6, 2014 . Kydland . Andreas . June 26, 2014 . July 14, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714134904/http://sandnesposten.no/index.php?page=vis_nyhet&NyhetID=7682 . live .
  20. News: 40 mil lang taxidugnad mot piratkjøring . NRK . March 3, 2014 . Berntsen Jåsund . Cecilie . July 11, 2014 . July 14, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714141028/http://www.nrk.no/rogaland/40-mil-med-taxidugnad-1.11593286 . live .
  21. Web site: Archived copy . 2014-09-02 . 2016-03-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305002218/http://www.taxiforbundet.no/sfiles/21/23/2/file/20140825-piratanmeldelse.pdf . dead .
  22. Web site: Anmelder Haxi for piratvirksomhet - Norsk Transportarbeiderforbund . 2014-10-14 . 2014-10-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141019233117/http://www.transportarbeider.no/kunder/ntf/cms.nsf/pages/anmelder-haxi-for-piratvirksomhet . live .
  23. News: Haxi politianmeldes for piratvirksomhet . NRK . October 7, 2014 . Eriksen . Nina . October 14, 2014 . October 17, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141017140620/http://www.nrk.no/ostlandssendingen/kompiskjoring-politianmeldes-1.11969713 . live .
  24. News: Anker Haxi-henleggelse . Fri Fagbevegelse . November 12, 2014 . Solstad . Roy Ervin . November 12, 2014 . November 26, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141126034824/http://frifagbevegelse.no/arbeidsliv/anker_haxihenleggelse_300831.html . live .
  25. News: Flere Haxi-sjåfører anmeldt i Stavanger . Aftenbladet . December 10, 2014 . Rolfsnes . May-Helen . December 12, 2014 . April 24, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150424002750/http://www.aftenbladet.no/nyheter/lokalt/stavanger/Flere-Haxi-sjaforer-anmeldt-i-Stavanger-3582768.html . live .
  26. News: Taxisjåførar køyrer piratdrosje . NRK . December 17, 2014 . Mathisen . Svein Jacob . December 19, 2014 . December 19, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141219142251/http://www.nrk.no/rogaland/taxisjaforar-koyrer-piratdrosje-1.12106113 . live .
  27. News: Haxi vil hjelpe anmeldt sjåfør med å ta saken for retten . E24 . December 10, 2014 . Moe . Sigrid . May 24, 2015 . May 10, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150510101518/http://e24.no/privat/haxi-vil-hjelpe-anmeldt-sjaafoer-med-aa-ta-saken-for-retten/23353371 . live .
  28. News: Tre Haxi sjåfører nektet å betale pirat bot. Manda starter rettssaken . E24 Dine Penger . May 7, 2015 . Løhre . Maren . May 12, 2015 . May 12, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150512023705/http://e24.no/digital/tre-haxi-sjaafoerer-nektet-aa-betale-pirat-bot-mandag-starter-rettssaken/23448058 . live .
  29. News: Pirattaxirettssak i tingretten . Aftenbladet . May 11, 2015 . Munkvik . Cornelius . May 12, 2015 . May 15, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150515084554/http://www.aftenbladet.no/nyheter/lokalt/stavanger/Pirattaxirettssak-i-tingretten-3694717.html . live .
  30. News: Alle Haxisjåfører er frifunnet . E24 . May 20, 2015 . Moe . Sigrid . May 23, 2015 . May 24, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150524154118/http://e24.no/digital/alle-haxi-sjaafoerene-er-frifunnet/23455690 . live .
  31. News: Haxi virksomhet er lovlig . Radio Haugaland . May 21, 2015 . Solberg . Egil M. . May 23, 2015 . May 24, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150524135653/http://radiohaugaland.com/haxi-virksomhet-er-lovlig/ . live .
  32. News: Dom: Haxisjåfører frifunnet . Stavanger Tingrett . May 20, 2015 . Pedersen . Ragnhild Maria Solbakk . May 24, 2015 . May 24, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150524154022/http://www.slideshare.net/HaxiOfficial/haxi-sjfrer-frifunnet-dom-stavanger-tingrett . live .
  33. News: Påtalemyndighetens Anke Haxi . Stavanger Police . June 2, 2015 . Eskeland . Stian . June 2, 2015 . June 2, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150602232457/http://www.slideshare.net/HaxiOfficial/ptalemyndighetens-anke-haxi . live .
  34. News: Påtalemyndigheten anker Haxi dommen . E24 . June 4, 2015 . Moe . Sigrid . June 4, 2015 . June 7, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150607002432/http://e24.no/bil/paatalemyndigheten-anker-haxi-dommen/23463123 . live .
  35. News: Følg Haxi-saken i Gulating lagmannsrett . Aftenbaldet . February 11, 2016 . Munkvik . Cornelius.
  36. News: Tre Haxi-sjåfører ble frikjent i retten . tek.no . February 18, 2016 . Knudsen . Eigil . February 22, 2016 . February 21, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160221120011/http://www.tek.no/artikler/retten-har-bestemt-den-norske-taxi-appen-haxi-er-lovlig/277162 . live .
  37. News: Haxisaken ankes til Høyesterett . Dagens Næringsliv . February 29, 2016 . NTB . February 29, 2016 . March 20, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160320134809/https://www.dn.no/nyheter/politikkSamfunn/2016/02/29/1218/haxisaken-ankes-til-hyesterett . live .
  38. News: Høyesterett vil behandle Haxi-saken . Dagens Næringsliv . April 5, 2016 . NTB . NTB . April 13, 2016 . April 27, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160427165706/http://www.dn.no/nyheter/naringsliv/2016/04/05/1410/hyesterett-vil-behandle-haxisaken . live .
  39. News: Advokat etter Haxi-dom: Tror løyveplikten står for fall . E24 . July 3, 2016 . July 3, 2016 . July 4, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160704134352/http://e24.no/naeringsliv/haxi/advokat-etter-haxi-dom-tror-loeyveplikten-staar-for-fall/23728826 . live .
  40. News: Haxi-sjåfør får erstatning etter straffeforfølgelse . E24.no . June 23, 2017 . Moe . Sigrid . August 25, 2017 . August 25, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170825225741/http://e24.no/digital/haxi/haxi-sjaafoer-faar-erstatning-etter-straffeforfoelgelse/24005005 . live .
  41. News: Taxibranchen: Ny samkørselstjeneste skaber pirattaxier . MX.dk . June 29, 2014 . Stig Nielsen . Nicolas . July 11, 2014 . July 14, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714063046/http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2014/06/29/215105.htm . live .
  42. News: Trafikstyrelsen politianmelder omstridt samkørselstjeneste . DR Nyhederne . June 10, 2014 . Faurfelt . Rikke . July 11, 2014 . July 13, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140713013803/http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2014/07/10/133839.htm . live .
  43. Web site: Fejl 404 . Trafikstyrelsen.dk . 2021-12-04 . 2015-02-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150222073235/http://www.trafikstyrelsen.dk/DA/Presse/Nyhedsarkiv/Erhvervstransport/2014/07/Trafikstyrelsen-politianmelder-Haxi.aspx . live .
  44. Web site: Transportnyhederne.dk » Persontransport » Haxi opfordrer Trafikstyrelsen til at trække politianmeldelse tilbage . 2014-08-02 . 2014-10-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141029165432/http://www.transportnyhederne.dk/?Id=53494 . live .
  45. News: Efterforskning bliver standset . Københavns Politi . March 21, 2016 . Thorkil-Jensen . Vibeke . April 18, 2016 . April 26, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160426033653/http://www.slideshare.net/HaxiOfficial/kbenhavns-politi-haxi-efterforskning-standses . live .
  46. News: Taxi-anklager mod Uber-pendant droppet . Børsen . May 2, 2016 . Düvel . Lars . June 1, 2016 . June 25, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160625125812/http://borsen.dk/nyheder/avisen/artikel/11/140252/artikel.html . live .

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