Uber is broadcasting its disgust with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio with an aggressive new tactic.
On Thursday, the ride sharing app rolled out a tab in the app’s slider dubbed the “de Blasio” option that increases the wait time — or just says there’s no car available. The point of the taunt, which is for show only, is to show what Uber thinks would happen if City Council approves a bill that would limit the growth to one percent a year for companies that have 500 or more cars.
Exaggeration or not, it’s impossible to miss for Uber users.
“This is what Uber will look like in NYC if Mayor de Blasio’s Uber cap bill passes,” a pop up blares, encouraging people to email the mayor’s office to drop it.
Here’s what users see today:
Oh my! The @Uber NYC move against Mayor @deBlasioNYC is legendary. pic.twitter.com/JlHmvqjLob
— Mike Dudas (@mdudas) July 16, 2015
For his part, the mayor argues that Uber, along with Lyft, Dial 7 and other car service startups are creating traffic headaches. City Council is expected to vote next week.
“Mayor de Blasio’s plan to stop Uber will cost 10,000 jobs, hurt underserved areas and make wait times for Uber cars skyrocket,” Uber spokesman David Plouffe said in a statement obtained by the New York Post. “With this view, New York City riders can see for themselves how much time this political payback to big taxi owners will cost them.”
The elaborate troll is part of Uber’s heavy marketing campaign against de Blasio. It’s running an attack ad on local New York television stations accusing him of “giving in to the taxi industry.” Prior to that, they paid for people’s rides to City Hall to protest the proposal. Today’s tactic is the company’s loudest and most noticeable one yet.
More in Marketing
What TikTok’s e-commerce launch could mean for marketers and content creators
TikTok has officially launched its new e-commerce platform, TikTok Shop, earlier this month on August 1. Using the new e-commerce platform, brands and creators can sell products directly on the platform, potentially creating new revenue streams, and tap into the short-form video platform’s growing popularity.
‘The influencer industry can be really vile’: Confessions of an influencer marketer on the industry’s unfair hiring practices
While the influencer industry might sound exciting and like it’s full of opportunities, one marketer can vouch for the horrific scenarios that still take place behind the scenes.
Digiday+ Research: Marketers said revenue grew in the last year, with more growth expected ahead
After a tumultuous 12 months, marketers are getting a clear picture of how they really did during a time of true uncertainty. And, as it turns out, it wasn’t all that bad.
Ad position: web_bfu