One of the five newly licensed taxi fleets in Hong Kong is on track to begin operations in July, with some 200 drivers recruited.

The Big Bee fleet, operated by Sino Development (International) Company, plans to deploy 1,000 electric taxis across urban and New Territories routes.

The company has already signed up 200 drivers for its innovative program that offers a HK$7,000 base salary plus trip-based commissions.

Franky Wong Siu-pang, director of Sino Development (International) , reported an overwhelming response to driver recruitment as all the initial quotas have been filled.

Wong revealed that the company expects to recruit 800 drivers and all vehicles to arrive by June, and is finalizing the booking mobile application.

The app will offer dynamic pricing for pre-booked rides, with fares potentially 20 to 30 percent higher than street hails during peak demand.

All recruits must complete at least eight hours of training covering road safety regulations, vehicle operations, and customer service skills, including empathy training, before hitting the road.

Wong said the fleet will introduce a performance-based system in which top performers receive bonuses and drivers being complained against face consequences ranging from reduced assignments to termination.

Social workers will be hired to help drivers manage work-related stress.

The operator has also partnered with a taxi drivers' union representing over 60,000 members to ensure adequate staffing.

A fleet driver Jacky welcomed the approach, saying: “The fleet system will help standardize service quality across the industry. When passengers can document and report issues like smoking in cabs through the app's monitoring system, it creates accountability that improves service standards."

The government awarded five taxi fleet licenses in March, requiring all operators to launch services by July's end.

(Ayra Wang)

HK Big Bee fleet targets July launch, 200 drivers hired