Uber’s closest US rival in the taxi-hailing business, Lyft has repeatedly met with officials from London's transport regulator over the past year, a sign it may be targeting the city for international expansion.
Transport for London (TfL) published details of the meetings with Lyft executives in response to a UK government freedom of information request in July, according to media reports.
READ: New Uber boss concedes firm “must change” as he apologises to Londoners
Last Friday, TfL shocked many by announcing that it would not renew Uber's licence to operate in the UK capital, citing the firm's approach to reporting serious criminal offences and background checks on drivers.
Uber’s new boss, apologised yesterday for the “mistakes we’ve made”, and in an open letter, Dara Khosrowshahi – who took over the reins less than a month ago – said the company would be appealing TfL’s decision, while conceding that it “must change”.
Uber is expected to officially lodge its appeal within the coming days, while more than 700,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the TfL licence to be granted.
Lyft has already signalled it is looking at expansion outside the US, and if it enters the London market Uber would face its first well-funded competitor in Europe.
Lyft has raised around US$2.6bn in financing, including an investment round of US$600mln in April, with its investors including US autos giant General Motors Corp (NYSE:GM).