Two Uber executives ordered to stand trial in France

PARIS - The Associated Press

AP photo

Two Uber France managers have been ordered to stand trial on behalf of the San Francisco-based company on charges including "deceptive commercial practices" and complicity in illegal activities linked to its low-cost ride-hailing service.

The Paris prosecutor's office said June 30 that Thibault Simphal and Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty were taken into custody on June 29 after a police sweep at Uber France headquarters. They will appear in a Paris court on Sept. 30.
     
French authorities say the low-cost UberPop service is illegal and are frustrated that Uber doesn't pay the same taxes and social charges as traditional taxis. Uber calls the French system outdated and says it needs reform to keep up with technological changes.
     
Claiming unfair competition, taxi drivers staged a violence-marred strike on the issue last week, blocking many French roads.