They didn't act illegally, they found a workaround that was technically legal (taxis used a license-per-driver model, they figured out how to make it work with company-wide license) and lowered their costs (no need for expensive training and exams, they offset that by relying on GPS, and it was in fact the very reason I preferred them).

Regular taxi companies obviously got angry at the new competition, there was some tire slashing, and eventually courts clarified the regulations in a way that didn't turn out bad for either party, and now they peacefully coexist. Regular taxis adopted some of the new ideas, too, and the overall quality of service improved for every company.

Don't take this the wrong way, but it sounds like you are describing uber to the letter.

I don't believe so. As far as I know, unlike Uber, iCar never:

- actually broke any local law

- pulled any shenanigans with taxes or employment laws

- allowed nor encouraged drivers to operate with improper insurance

- messed with journalists

- used investor money to subsidize rides to the point no one could compete with their prices

Their one innovation was using GPS, which allowed them to avoid the need for training drivers in city kowlege (and the legal workaround they found thus let them operate under one company-wide transportation license), and to bill by distance instead of by time. The latter was actually a huge value for consumers, because it removed the price variation caused by congestion, as well as allowed the company to state the whole price up front, which made people trust them more.