New taxi fleets come with flexible pricing poised to adapt to competition

The taxi industry highlighted that fares for the five fleet of revolutionized cabs, set to hit the roads as early as the end of this month, will feature a flexible pricing mechanism adapted to market conditions.

Wong Tai-hoi, the general manager of operations of Sino Development (International) Company -- one of the taxi fleet operators -- said on a radio program on Wednesday that each new taxi fleet will come with its own exclusive ride-hailing app. 

He emphasized that public attention should not focus solely on fare hikes but on flexible fare models that would allow passengers to negotiate their rates directly with drivers.

The ride-hailing apps will offer passengers a fixed-fare option for those who prefer not to negotiate.

Wong noted that over 63,000 taxi drivers could transition from self-employment to fleet management, expressing confidence in driver recruitment since the transition merely represents a change in the rules.

Meanwhile, he stated that cabbies must understand the fleets' service standards and complaint-handling mechanisms to improve service quality.

Wong shared that his fleet, set to debut in July, will consist of 1,000 luxury taxis, including 100 wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Five of these cabs are also equipped with defibrillators for emergency medical assistance.

He added that the AI technology installed in the vehicles will require drivers to undergo breathalyzer tests to ensure they are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, thereby ensuring a safe ride.

Additionally, lawmaker Chan Siu-hung welcomed the emergence of the new fleets during the same program, expressing confidence that the industry can cater to diverse needs with the luxury and standard cabs provided by these fleets.