Winnipeg considers allowing taxis and other ride-hailing vehicles to equip tablets for showcasing digital ads and offering passenger information. The city’s vehicle for hire manager, Grant Heather, proposes adjusting regulations to permit digital advertising in cabs, Uber cars, and other licensed transport vehicles.
According to the recent annual report submitted to the city council, the increasing demand for revenue-generating opportunities in the transportation sector, combined with the captive audience within vehicles, presents a favorable environment for integrating tablets that can display ads and provide helpful content to travelers. The report also highlights the growing preference for ride-hailing services like Uber over traditional cab services in Winnipeg.
In 2024, Winnipeg had 589 active cabs monthly, while there were 2,712 Uber and similar ride-hailing vehicles operating in the city. The report indicates that Uber, Lyft, and other ride-hailing companies captured 57% of the total rides in the first eight months of 2024, with taxis holding the remaining 43% share. This represents a shift from 2023 when the market share between the two modes of transportation was more evenly split.
