alt Hacker NewsI believe taxi companies own the license (which is super expensive) as well as the car. They also pay maintenance and gas costs. So 35% cut to just drive equipment is not that bad. The issue with uber/lyft is that you also need to bring your vehicle, pay maintenance, gas, insurance and depreciation.
I think that poor guy made less than 15% (assuming an 80 cent per mile cost for the vehicle).
I believe in Europe taxi drivers typically cover these costs too. Not sure about licensing costs. In that regard, they are more like cooperatives rather than "companies with employees". But I don't know for sure - and probably varies by locale.