SMRT orders 2,000 Chevrolet Tosca taxis

[Stooky]

CHEVROLET cabs will join an increasingly bewildering array of taxi models on the road soon.

 

Transport group SMRT Corp, the third biggest taxi operator here, has ordered 2,000 Chevrolet Tosca sedans from Chevy agent Alpine Motors. The Tosca is a Korean domestic name for the Epica - a popular Chevrolet executive sedan here. The taxi variant is a 2-litre turbodiesel vehicle with a six-speed automatic transmission.

 

Alpine managing director Albert Pang said the 2,000 Chevy taxis will be delivered by 2012, and that SMRT has signed an option for more after that.

 

The first ones will be delivered in the first quarter of next year.

 

'This deal took over two years to put together,' Mr Pang said, adding that 'a few other taxi companies have talked to us', but the Chevy cabs are only for SMRT for now.

 

He would not disclose the price of the vehicle, but The Straits Times understands the Korean-made American model is close to what a Hyundai Sonata cab was priced at - about $50,000 without a Certificate Of Entitlement.

 

SMRT was displaced recently as the second biggest cab operator here, after being overtaken by newcomer Trans-Cab. It has about 2,600 taxis on the road, compared with Trans-Cab's 4,000. At its second-quarter financial results announcement last week, the company said it would renew its ageing fleet and increase its number of vehicles.

 

SMRT is known for its eclectic mix of taxis, which include Ssangyong, Chrysler, Mercedes and London cabs. Its taxi business has been making either losses or very modest profits in the last decade. For the quarter ended Sept 30, it posted an operating profit before taxes of $374,000 - down from $773,000 in the previous corresponding period.

 

Including the Chevy, there are now 35 models of taxis here - nearly three times the variety five years ago. And 10 years ago, there were only a handful, with Toyota's Crown and Nissan's Cedric dominating the scene. But when the stricter Euro IV emission standard was implemented four years ago, the two Japanese stalwarts fell off the scene because they did not have variants that could meet Euro IV.

 

Hence, the influx of new cabs. New models have included models from Honda, Volkswagen, Skoda and even China's Chery. And last year, Prime Taxis, the newest cab company here, started using petrol-electric hybrid cabs.

 

Renault agent Wearnes Automotive has also been in talks with cab companies to supply vehicles.

 

Despite the wide array of taxi types, the Land Transport Authority said there should be no risk of commuters wanting to flag one down mistaking them for ordinary cars.

 

[Forrestcat]

CHEVROLET cabs will join an increasingly bewildering array of taxi models on the road soon.

 

Transport group SMRT Corp, the third biggest taxi operator here, has ordered 2,000 Chevrolet Tosca sedans from Chevy agent Alpine Motors. The Tosca is a Korean domestic name for the Epica - a popular Chevrolet executive sedan here. The taxi variant is a 2-litre turbodiesel vehicle with a six-speed automatic transmission.

 

Alpine managing director Albert Pang said the 2,000 Chevy taxis will be delivered by 2012, and that SMRT has signed an option for more after that.

 

The first ones will be delivered in the first quarter of next year.

 

'This deal took over two years to put together,' Mr Pang said, adding that 'a few other taxi companies have talked to us', but the Chevy cabs are only for SMRT for now.

 

He would not disclose the price of the vehicle, but The Straits Times understands the Korean-made American model is close to what a Hyundai Sonata cab was priced at - about $50,000 without a Certificate Of Entitlement.

 

SMRT was displaced recently as the second biggest cab operator here, after being overtaken by newcomer Trans-Cab. It has about 2,600 taxis on the road, compared with Trans-Cab's 4,000. At its second-quarter financial results announcement last week, the company said it would renew its ageing fleet and increase its number of vehicles.

 

SMRT is known for its eclectic mix of taxis, which include Ssangyong, Chrysler, Mercedes and London cabs. Its taxi business has been making either losses or very modest profits in the last decade. For the quarter ended Sept 30, it posted an operating profit before taxes of $374,000 - down from $773,000 in the previous corresponding period.

 

Including the Chevy, there are now 35 models of taxis here - nearly three times the variety five years ago. And 10 years ago, there were only a handful, with Toyota's Crown and Nissan's Cedric dominating the scene. But when the stricter Euro IV emission standard was implemented four years ago, the two Japanese stalwarts fell off the scene because they did not have variants that could meet Euro IV.

 

Hence, the influx of new cabs. New models have included models from Honda, Volkswagen, Skoda and even China's Chery. And last year, Prime Taxis, the newest cab company here, started using petrol-electric hybrid cabs.

 

Renault agent Wearnes Automotive has also been in talks with cab companies to supply vehicles.

 

Despite the wide array of taxi types, the Land Transport Authority said there should be no risk of commuters wanting to flag one down mistaking them for ordinary cars.

 

This is one of the many reasons why Cat A prices is on the rise....

[Ben5266]

More worrying news is, SMRT has confirmed they have yet to start bidding for COE...

How many Cat A available for the next 3 months? 1200 per month, 3600 for 3 months.

SMRT needs 2000. Finish egg.

Good luck to those who booked car from now.

[Kopites]

All along my perception that local fleet of taxi are all 2.0cc above. Why Cat A ? Enlighten me anyone.

[Ben5266]

All along my perception that local fleet of taxi are all 2.0cc above. Why Cat A ? Enlighten me anyone.

Cat A is <=1600cc & Taxi.

Cat B is > 1600cc.

 

 

[Forrestcat]

Cat A is <=1600cc & Taxi.

Cat B is > 1600cc.

 

Imo, they should create another Cat for taxi & vans.....

Not really fair to lump taxi into Cat A.....

[Razgriz]

Actually I feel it will drop ...

[Kopites]

Cat A is <=1600cc & Taxi.

Cat B is > 1600cc.

 

 

Thanks Bro.

 

However what was the reason given by LTA to lump taxi fleet with Cat A?

[Mustank]

i think cat a guys going to have it real bad

[Sleepy-T]

Thanks Bro.

 

However what was the reason given by LTA to lump taxi fleet with Cat A?

maybe due to all taxi was 1600cc below last time b4 all those fancy cabs arrived

[13177]

Is this Chevrolet Tosca below 1.6 or 2.0? I think not very fair to lump taxi into Cat A, as nowadays many taxi is above 1.6!

[Alheych]

Cat A is supposed to be cheaper and thus more affordable for taxis which are for business purposes.

[Eyke]

This is one of the many reasons why Cat A prices is on the rise....

 

dun quote whole long post just for a one-liner comment

[Friendstar]

another korean car as taxi... boring.

[Husky]

And my colleague who owns a chevy epica was laughing at the camry owners (another car that was used as cabs) some time ago.

 

Guess I can laugh at him now!

[themagi]

It is karma. Anyway cab companies are equal opportunities in making marque or mass-market cars into cabs.

[Zealot]

another korean car as taxi... boring.

 

not if it's a 2L turbo diesel with 148bhp, 320nm torque

and a size that almost as big as a bmw 5 series...

Edited November 20, 2010 by Zealot

[Darthrevan]

another korean car as taxi... boring.

 

hey the engine is designed by Porsche!