inDrive Secures Operating Permits in Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta

US-based mobility and urban services platform inDrive announced the renewal of its operating license for the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area and the formal acquisition of the permit to operate in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. The company considers these developments key to continue providing mobility services in one of Mexico’s main cities and one of the FIFA World Cup 2026 hosting cities. 

According to inDrive, this regulatory milestone occurs as Guadalajara maintains a population of 5.2 million inhabitants, while Puerto Vallarta recorded an influx of over 6.2 million visitors during 2025. According to Rafael Garza Medrano, General Director, inDrive in Mexico, the formalization in these cities establishes legal certainty for transportation options in regional hubs where mobility is a primary driver of economic and tourist activity.

The platform's administration stated its intention to continue collaborating with state and municipal authorities to align its service offering with local regulatory frameworks and the specific transport demands of residents and international tourists within the state of Jalisco.

The company's peer-to-peer (P2P) dynamic is part of a national network that, according to the Impact Report by Mexico’s Internet Association, recorded over 200 million trips and over 380 services per minute, across Mexico during 2025. The report further indicates that the company's current operational scale represents approximately 18.5% of the total investment projected for infrastructure and transport by the three Mexican host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Strategic Preparation for the 2026 World Cup

inDrive is preparing to meet an expected surge in demand across the host cities of Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey, where 13 official matches will take place. The company anticipates record traffic between airports, hotels, and stadiums such as Estadio Akron in Guadalajara and Estadio BBVA in Monterrey. Beyond stadium transfers, the platform expects significant volume for trips to Pueblos Mágicos and archaeological sites, which are popular among international tourist groups. 

“Major global events, such as the upcoming World Cup, represent a significant challenge and a massive opportunity for a nation. Having experienced the scale of such events in Moscow 2018, I understand the logistical complexities that arise when millions of visitors arrive simultaneously. For inDrive, this is a critical moment to demonstrate how our technology can support both travelers and local authorities,” Anton Shingarev, Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs, inDrive told MBN.

Regulatory Precedents and Regional Strategy

On Dec. 11, 2024, MBN reported that inDrive became the first mobility app to receive full authorization to operate at Cancun International Airport (CUN). This was achieved through a partnership with Caribe Taxi Exprés (CTE), a federal tourism permit holder, deploying over 300 authorized vehicles. This collaboration was positioned by local authorities as a strategy to modernize mobility and address historical tensions between digital platforms and local taxi unions.

The Cancun agreement established a legal framework for app-based services to operate within federal zones, a model that Rafael Garza noted would serve as a template for other Mexican airports. The platform seeks to mitigate safety concerns and conflicts that have previously resulted in incidents between taxi drivers and app-based operators in the region.