Chicago Real Estate Blog

There's a number of different mobile apps and companies out there today that make catching a cab or hitching a ride much easier than it was only a few years ago. But last week, one such company has raised the white flag and will not only be leaving Chicago, but all of North America.  

Hailo, the London-based e-hailing taxi service, has officially called it quits here in the Windy City, citing competition and increased price pressure from rival companies like Uber and Lyft. Unlike Uber and Lyft however, which works more with private drivers, Hailo sought to differentiate its service by working closer to cab drivers, helping them find a better and more efficient way to generate business.  

As the ride-hailing app game migrated more towards private drivers however, specifically with the lower priced UberX service, Hailo struggled to maintain, and will now dedicate its resources to Europe and Asia.  E-mail notices to its users about the shutdown were sent out last week, and if you're a local Chicago resident who routinely used or relied on Hailo to get a ride or hail a cab, you're now only left with Uber and Lyft as the primary way to snag a driver using your mobile device.