The use of imported electric vehicles as taxis is on the rise.
According to Kaizyu, the number of imported cars being used as taxis has been steadily increasing for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022. In 2020, there were 48 units sold, increasing to 58 units in 2021, and reaching 71 units in 2022.
General Motors saw a significant jump in taxi sales from 4 units in 2020 to 16 units in 2022, primarily featuring the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV. Meanwhile, Toyota, which changed its slogan from ‘Smart Hybrid’ to ‘Smart Electric’, sold 11 units in 2020 but remained at 9 units for both 2021 and 2022. Lexus also exhibited a steady increase, starting with 1 unit in 2020, 2 units in 2021, and 9 units in 2022.
Luxury brands have also seen a substantial boost in the sale of their electrified models as taxis.
BMW did not have any taxi models sold in the past three years but managed to sell 4 units in 2022. Also, with the launch of the EQ brand and an expanded lineup, Mercedes-Benz increased its taxi sales from just 1 unit in 2020 and 2021 to 3 units in 2022. Audi also sold 1 unit of the e-tron as a taxi in 2022.
A sales representative from Mercedes-Benz in the metropolitan area emphasized the trend of personal taxis changing due to electrification, noting that “there were inquiries from customers wanting taxis which was previously non-existent.”
The growing use of imported vehicles as taxis is greatly influenced by the changing environment of the taxi market. Personal taxi licenses can now be issued without corporate taxi experience if driven accident-free for 5 years, leading to an increase in individuals seeking to operate imported cars as taxis.
In response to this trend, imported car brands have shown a cautious attitude. A representative from a front-line import brand stated, “The overwhelming mileage of taxies compared to ordinary passenger cars suggests that our model being sold as a taxi is proof of our quality. However, it’s also true that the image of being used as a taxi might contradict the expectations of high quality from consumers.”
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr