More Uber cars now drive New York City's streets than yellow taxis. (Tweet This)
The ride-sharing company has 14,088 cars operating in New York, compared to the 13,587 yellow medallion cabs allowed to drive at any one time, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission told CNBC on Wednesday. Uber—which is valued around $40 billion—has faced opposition from traditional taxi services since its founding in 2009.
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The company allows users to hail a car from a mobile app. Riders pay their fare in advance, a distinct difference from traditional taxis.
Yellow cabs still provide more rides than Uber cars, though, TLC Commissioner Meera Joshi said in a statement.
Outnumbering New York's traditional yellow cabs marks another step in Uber's rapid expansion. Its growth, though, has brought its share of issues.
Drivers often make more money than traditional cab operators. They are independent contractors to Uber, not employees, which has prompted an ongoing lawsuit from drivers in California.
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Uber is also facing legal issues in Western Europe, where French police on Wednesday raided its Paris office as part of an investigation into its UberPop service. Separately on Wednesday, a German court issued a nationwide ban on Uber services.