Uber officially launched in Adelaide, but when will the new transport service start?

UBER has been officially launched in Adelaide, but when will the new kid of personal transport start driving around your block?

BARCELONA, SPAIN - JULY 01: In this photo illustration, the app 'Uber' is launched in a smart phone on July 1, 2014 in Barcelona, Spain. Taxi drivers in main cities strike over unlicensed car-halling services. Drivers say that is a lack of regulation behind the new app. (Photo Illustration by David Ramos/Getty Images)

A DINNER held for the South Australian launch of Uber attracted a mixed guest list but the question on everyone’s lips was ‘When can we expect Uber X?’

The controversial service operating in cities worldwide connects passengers with non-accredited drivers who use their own vehicles.

“We genuinely don’t have a date but we’re very eager to do it,” said Uber’s Australian managing Director David Rohrsheim. “We’ve got it running in every other state and we want to do it here. We’d rather do it with the government’s blessing and those conversations are just getting started. We’d rather do it with their blessing than without. Sometimes we move faster than they do.”

Uber Black, the app-based service used to connect passengers with accredited hire car drivers and cars was introduced in South Australia during August. When it did, then acting transport minister Tom Koutsantonis was vocal in warnings against its safety.

Mr Koutsantonis did not attend the dinner but was in attendance at a business function in the same venue.

“We did not plan this but he’s actually upstairs,” Mr Rohrsheim said. “We saw him walk upstairs. Look, if anyone has his phone number we’d be happy to invite him down.”

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The launch, held at riverside restaurant Jolley’s Boathouse, was attended by members of the local business community, political figures, fashion, sport and media.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Mr Rohrsheim said. “I’ve been with Uber for two years and came back from the States to get it set up first in Sydney. It took us two years to get to Adelaide — my hometown — so it’s long overdue.”

Uber drivers were on hand to transport guests home.

“The drivers are our best ambassadors. Once people take a ride they’re sold,” Mr Rohrsheim said. “Every time someone has a positive experience they go and tell their friends about it. It’s all getting back to the government. Everyone that uses it is happy — drivers and passengers. That’s why it works because both of them are happy.”

Not everyone agrees. Outside, a group of chauffeur drivers waited to collect attendees at the event attended by Mr Koutsantonis, among them was President of the Chauffeur Vehicle Association of South Australia, Phil Johnson.

“We’ve got a meeting with the government on Monday. I’m assuming that they’re probably going to tell us that they’ve granted the (Uber Black) operator’s license,” Mr Johnson said.

“I joined up and took an Uber ride to the city. The driver saw me and recognised who I was,” he said. Mr Johnson said his Uber account was disabled soon after his journey as a passenger was complete.

“There’s six operators and five drivers who (joined) got ‘please explain letters’ and they’ve appeared and are now going to the standard’s committee and we’ll see if they get prosecuted or not.”

Mr Johnson said most major booking offices have informed their drivers that if they join Uber they won’t be permitted to return. “It will be interesting long term to see what happens,” he said.

According to Mr Rohrsheim, resistance to the service was expected.

“We get this everywhere. It’s not really about technology,” he said. “No one really stands up and says they don’t like new technology. It’s more about the established operators who don’t want anyone to step on their turf. It’s more about taxi versus the world, not Adelaide versus the world. We see that everywhere.”