Ride-sharing service, Uber, has faced opposition from several European cities, with Berlin being the latest to join in.
The city's senate banned the app earlier this week to ensure the safety of passengers, particularly those that are uninsured, according to PC Magazine. A $33,000 fine will be dished out to Uber whenever its drivers operate in Berlin.
Despite receiving this ban, Uber said it will continue to offer rides to people in the capital city.
"We intend to formally challenge this decision and fully expect that Berlin will follow the Hamburg authorities' lead and overturn the prohibition order," said Fabien Nestmann, general manager for Uber in Germany, referring to Hamburg's ban of the service last month.
Uber first made its service available in Berlin in February last year. The Berlin authorities argued that since Uber doesn't use traditional taxis, passengers might not be covered by insurance, BBC News reported.
Nestmann, however, argued that the city's decision would only hurt consumers.
"The decision from the Berlin authorities is not progressive and it's seeking to limit consumer choice for all the wrong reasons," he said. "As a new entrant we're bringing much-needed competition to a market that hasn't changed in years."
Customers are able to use their smartphones to hail cabs through Uber's software, BBC News reported. A cut of the fare is then given to the company.
Uber is also receiving opposition from traditional taxi drivers, who staged a protest in London in June, arguing that Uber's drivers are less restricted in their operations than they are.
While the service may be banned in certain areas, Uber has offered a new app on Wedensday designed for cities where it is permitted to operate, PC Magazine reported. The updated app comes with turn-by-turn navigation for the driver, along with destination entry options for passengers.
Uber currently offers rides in several German cities, which include Frankfurt, Munich, and Dusseldorf, and is looking to bring its service to Cologne and Stuttgart. The company also established its presence in Hong Kong on Thursday by launching UberTaxi to allow people in the city to easily hail cabs.
