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Mercedes/Audi/BMW taxis are common in Germany. This doesn't mean you'll be able to order your S class in NYC/SF any time soon.
by mlrtime 11y ago
Mercedes/Audi/BMW taxis are common in Germany. This doesn't mean you'll be able to order your S class in NYC/SF any time soon.
- ThomPete 11y agoAnd most of northern Europe
- semi-extrinsic 11y agoHere in Norway we even have Tesla Model S taxis. (The government subsidies are a bit crazy.) Edit: to be clear, these are regular taxis, not high-end/limousine/whatnot-service
- ZeroGravitas 11y agoI've seen it claimed that due to the lower fuel costs, and the lower maintenance, that taxis are a fast growth market for electric cars so that may be a factor as well.
- JupiterMoon 11y agoAre there actual subsidies or just lower taxes on electric cars in Norway? EDIT We are being pedantic apparently. Are there any cash or cash like payments or is the subsidy purely in the form of a tax reduction?
- semi-extrinsic 11y agoInvestopedia defines subsidy as "A subsidy is a benefit given by the government to groups or individuals usually in the form of a cash payment or tax reduction."
- semi-extrinsic 11y agoMost of the subsidy is in the form of tax reductions, a little is in cash like payments (e.g. increased car allowance). But what does it matter? The distinction is purely arbitrary. If the government said "there will be no tax reductions, you get an equivalent cash payment instead", the end financial situation for both you and for the government is exactly the same. If I sell you a donut for $3 and then give you $1 back, or I sell you a donut for $2, is there any meaningful difference?
- elorant 11y agoSouthern too. There are tons of Merc taxis in Greece. Beemers or Audis not so much.
- maxxxxx 11y agoTaxis are not S class in Germany.
- _ak 11y agoHere in Berlin, they're E class. So you're talking about E-segment vs F-segment cars here. Not that big of a step here.
- jdietrich 11y agoMy thoughts exactly. Uber are struggling to get a foothold in Europe because of regulation. I suspect the plan is to become a traditional taxi or limousine operator in these hostile markets, leasing cars to licensed taxi drivers. Using S class rather than the more common C class cars would fit with their existing Uber Black service.
- toomuchtodo 11y ago> in these hostile markets "markets where regulations are enforced"
- tdaltonc 11y agoHave they piloted this idea? Because 100,000 cars is big bet if they haven't established service-market fit.
- zippergz 11y agoYou can get an S Class or similar via Uber today, but you have to order an Uber Lux, which is quite a bit more expensive than a regular Black (though I have gotten a BMW 7 Series as a Black before). Of course, none of these cars are owned by Uber.