London Mayor Sadiq Khan has asked Transport for London (TfL) officials to “make themselves available” to meet the boss of Uber, who has apologised for “the mistakes we’ve made”.
The ride-hailing firm was denied a new operating licence by TfL on Friday on the grounds of “public safety and security implications”.
Uber has said it will launch an appeal against the decision.
Dara Khosrowshahi, chief executive of the company, accepted that it had “got things wrong”.
Mr Khan said: “I welcome the apology from Dara Khosrowshahi, the Uber CEO. Obviously I am pleased that he has acknowledged the issues that Uber faces in London.
“Even though there is a legal process in place, I have asked TfL to make themselves available to meet with him.”
Mr Khosrowshahi took over at Uber last month after predecessor Travis Kalanick resigned following a series of scandals.
In a letter to the London Evening Standard, he wrote that Uber will challenge the licence decision “with the knowledge that we must also change”.
He went on: “We won’t be perfect, but we will listen to you; we will look to be long-term partners with the cities we serve; and we will run our business with humility, integrity and passion.”
The issues raised by TfL include Uber’s approach to reporting serious criminal offences, how drivers’ medical certificates are obtained, how criminal record checks are carried out, and its use of technology which allegedly helps it to evade law enforcement.
More than 740,000 people have signed an online petition launched by Uber urging TfL to reverse its decision.
Mr Khosrowshahi thanked “everyone who uses Uber for your support over the last few days”.
He added: “While Uber has revolutionised the way people move in cities around the world, it’s equally true that we’ve got things wrong along the way.
“On behalf of everyone at Uber globally, I apologise for the mistakes we’ve made. We will appeal this decision on behalf of millions of Londoners, but we do so with the knowledge that we must also change. As Uber’s new CEO, it is my job to help Uber write its next chapter.”
Uber enables users to book cars using their smartphones and is available in more than 40 towns and cities across the UK.
Some 3.5 million passengers and 40,000 drivers use the app in London.
In July TfL said it had carried out 10 compliance inspections at Uber’s headquarters during the past four years.
Responding to a Freedom of Information request, TfL stated: “Uber have satisfied regulatory requirements and, like all private hire operators, are subject to ongoing tests and inspections to ensure that they remain compliant.”