German ride-hailing firm 'Free Now' has been handed a licence “longer than any major competitor” to operate in London.

Transport for London (TfL) granted 'Free Now' and operating licence for three years meaning it holds "the longest private hire licence of the four largest operators in London". It is reported that the licence has been issued by TfL, following struggles by firms including Uber to secure licenses with the transport body in the capital.

It is reported that Free Now said it is committed to “investing and growing further” in London and the wider UK market in the coming three years. The firm claims to have has quadrupled its number of UK journeys in the year to June 2022, with a steep increase in demand for private hire vehicle services.

A spokesperson for 'Free Now' is reported to have said in a statement:

“Free Now is moving towards a broad urban mobility ecosystem, ensuring to get passengers from A to B in the most fast, flexible and frictionless way. The platform brings together disparate demand and supply together more intelligently to save emissions, reduce dependence on private cars and increase the efficiency of urban mobility.

“Within the past year Free Now has expanded [our] mobility offering, providing even further choice for consumers in how they travel all available within one app. Alongside private hire vehicles and iconic black cabs, users can book the largest fleet of electric mobility options in London through e-scooters and e-bikes which is made available through app integrations with key operators active in the market including Dott, HumanForest and TIER.”