bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Shirley Zhao

Ford launched a new taxi model in Hong Kong yesterday - boasting better safety standards and far more room for luggage in a bid to appeal to the tourist market.
The city's ageing 18,000-strong taxi fleet has triggered competition among carmakers to provide new models. Ford hopes its Transit Connect Taxi can attract between 30 and 50 per cent of taxi owners who need to replace their vehicles in the next two to three years.
But some taxi owners say the new model, with a price tag of about HK$250,000, is not as attractive as the most widely used Toyota Crown Comfort, priced at HK$220,000.
Ford's new taxi has a distinctive European minivan look, in contrast to the look of most current Hong Kong cabs. It features four seats, six airbags and a cargo capacity of 1,656 litres - claimed to be three times bigger than that of most taxis now on the road.

Johnny Ng Siu-keung, managing director of local Ford sales agent Inchcape Far East Company, said the bigger luggage space would cater better to mainland tourists.
"Many taxi drivers have to strap down [oversized] luggage in the back of their taxis and it doesn't really go with the rules," said Ng. "Many taxi owners have expressed interest to us."
Ng said the maximum power of the model - 162 horsepower - is up to 30 per cent higher than rival taxis.
The model uses a cleaner LPG system. Klaus Bohn, managing director of Ford-CNG-Technik, said the emissions generated by the Transit Connect could be between 50 and 80 per cent lower than rival taxis.
"This system is the cleanest we've ever tested," said Bohn.
But Wong Po-keung, chairman of the Hong Kong Taxi Owners Association, said the price was too high and there were too many airbags, meaning maintenance costs would be much higher. He also said the minivan-style seats would be less comfortable than current taxi seats.
Wong also voiced concern that the model's components would be difficult to find, compared to those for the Toyota Crown Comfort, which has been on the market for more than a decade. He said the model would be more attractive to those who did airport runs only because of the bigger luggage space.
"Cost is always the biggest concern to us taxi owners," said Wong.


Ford motor company launches new-style taxi in Hong Kong

Ford executive David Westerman shows off his company's new taxi model, which he hopes can be used to target tourists. Photo: Edward Wong

The Interior of the Transit Connect Taxi, with plenty of space for luggage and seats for four passengers. Photo: Edward Wong

News

Hong Kong

Lifestyle

Travel & Leisure

Car boasts ample luggage space, but one owner says it's too expensive


Ford launched a new taxi model in Hong Kong - boasting better safety standards and far more room for luggage in a bid to appeal to the tourist market.
