Five taxi fleets to launch service this month: transport chief

Hong Kong is gearing up to revolutionize its taxi services with over 3,500 taxis, including 1,900 electric vehicles, which will hit the roads as early as the end of this month.

This came as Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan announced the launch of the city’s five licensed taxi fleets at a ceremony at the Transport Department Vehicle Examination Complex in Tsing Yi on Monday.

Chan emphasized the importance of innovation in the taxi sector, which has faced numerous challenges in recent years.

“Many citizens have grown up taking taxis, but the industry has weathered storms and difficulties,” Chan said. 

“The industry must embrace reform and innovation, or risk falling behind the times.”

The new fleets will feature a mix of electric, hybrid, and wheelchair-accessible vehicles, with approximately 1,500 brand-new taxis and the remaining vehicles being less than three years old.

Notably, 1,900 of the taxis will be electric, underscoring Hong Kong’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable urban mobility.

Each vehicle will be equipped with advanced safety features, including global positioning systems (GPS), dashcams, and driver monitoring systems, with electronic payment options available.

In a bid to further modernize the industry, Chan revealed plans to propose legislative amendments in the second quarter of this year.

These changes will require all taxis in Hong Kong to install in-vehicle recording systems and offer at least two electronic payment methods.

The department had awarded five five-year taxi fleet licenses last year, covering three urban fleets and two hybrid fleets.

The licensed operators are Big Boss Taxi Company Limited, CMG Fleet Management Limited, Sino Development (International) Company Limited, SynCab Service Limited and Tai Wo Management Limited. 

Among these, Tai Wo Management’s fleet, branded “JOIE,” stands out with its vibrant orange electric vehicles.

Managing Director Aaron Ng Hoi-shan explained that the color symbolizes energy and vitality, reflecting the fleet’s mission to deliver joyful and comfortable rides.

The JOIE fleet will initially deploy 480 taxis, including 300 new vehicles, featuring models such as the MAXUS MIFA7 electric luxury taxi, Toyota Noah wheelchair-accessible taxi, and Toyota Comfort hybrid taxi. Once fully operational, the fleet will expand to 800 vehicles.. 

In a move to cater to international tourists, the JOIE fleet will offer multilingual services, including Arabic, English, and Chinese. This aligns with the government’s efforts to strengthen ties with the Middle East, as outlined in the latest Policy Address.

(Ayra Wang)