Mobile taxi company Hailo announced earlier today that it is shutting down its North American operations amidst fierce competition from services like Uber and Lyft. The Toronto branch of the company is, however, fighting to remain in operation under a licensing agreement that would allow it to run independently of the company at large.

"Hailo Toronto remains in operation and will continue to provide service to passengers and drivers," local head Justin Raymond told TechCrunch. "As it stands, the Toronto team definitely wants it to continue, and we're committed to that. There just need to be some details worked out with the Hailo parent company to keep it alive and make it thrive in Toronto as it has been."

Should a deal be able to be worked out, it will be interesting to examine what it is about the Toronto market that makes the company more viable here than other North American cities. Hailo now plans to focus its efforts on Europe and Asia, where it is active in over 20 cities.

Photo courtesy of Hailo