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Uber launches in Hamburg, now live in six German cities

Uber Technologies Inc. banner during the company's IPO at the NYSE in New York

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Uber said on Wednesday it was launching ride-hailing services in Germany's second city, Hamburg, as it seeks to achieve scale in a country where it has met resistance from local taxi firms, city governments and the courts.

The $75 billion platform, which connects drivers and passengers in 100 European cities, is launching its low-cost UberX option in Hamburg along with Uber Taxi, a traditional taxi service, and Uber Green, which uses electric vehicles.

Hamburg is the sixth German city in which Uber Technologies Inc has rolled out its full range of services, following a pledge last year by CEO Dara Khosrowshahi to make a fresh start https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tech-germany-uber/uber-ceo-focused-on-responsible-growth-seeks-fresh-start-in-germany-idUSKBN1FB1ZA in Europe's largest economy and seek responsible growth.

"The ways people move around cities are changing and we see positive regulatory momentum for ride sharing across Europe," said Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty, Vice President, International Rides, at Uber.

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"We are partnering with cities throughout Germany to address their growing transportation needs and to shape the future of urban mobility together."

Uber competes in Germany with FREE NOW, a taxi app backed by Daimler and BMW. Recently rebranded, FREE NOW is part of a joint venture into which the two carmakers plan to invest 1 billion euros (£903 million).

The U.S. ride-hailing platform, which floated in New York in May, has faced a string of setbacks in Germany dating back to the buccaneering days of founder and former CEO Travis Kalanick.

Germany's highest court ruled last December that a defunct limousine service offered by Uber was illegal, finding in favour of a complaint brought by the owner of a Berlin taxi business that it violated laws governing car rentals.

(Reporting by Douglas Busvine; editing by David Evans)