The leaked documents also reveal the role that lobbying and relationships with friendly politicians played in Ubers success.
Embracing the chaos also allegedly included endangering the companys drivers.
Almost wherever Uber landed, taxi unions organized protests that could sometimes turn violent.
What has (and hasnt) changed
This chaos strategy arguably worked.
Yet, it still struggles with profitability and aggressive competitors.
In 2017, Kalanick stepped down and was replaced as CEO by Dara Khosrowshahi.
Most of the leadership has also changed since then.
Accusations abouta workplace culture of harassment and sexismappear to have dried up.
It has also taken a calmer and more polite approach to expansion - moving slower, breaking less stuff.
It entered Berlin the same year, in violation of German competition laws.
The company was banned, left both cities, and returned later in compliance with existing regulations.
And yet, some things have stayed the same.
Uber adapts to existing rules, but only as little as necessary to provide its services.
Fighting regulations is a survival strategy.
They have a preferred model in mind as close as possible to their original one.
Beyond another stain on its reputation, Uber has very real problems.
Apps like Uber and the hundreds that followed promised innovation.
Instead, they have brought a barely-disguised version of the exploitation and corruption that has always characterized capitalism.
