RIP: Benzo Taxis

If you are like us, still trying to catch a ride in a shiny Benzo taxi, we’ve got some bad news. Dazhong Taxi Service, the company behind the flashy three-year-old Mercedes-Benz operation is pulling the plug on the remaining 55 E Class sedans that are still in service. (This has been reported before -- the first 45 were taken off the road back in August -- but many people were wondering why they still saw Mercedes taxis on the street after their supposed departure.) A company spokesperson cited cost as the main reason behind the move. Who knew running MB taxis would be expensive? Chalk this one up to “unforeseeable market condition”.

Alright, it was probably a marketing gimmick, a poorly conceived and ridiculously expensive one at that, though more likely Dazhong was merely taking orders from senior city officials who, in their infinite wisdom, had thought that the move would spiff up Shanghai’s image as a modern and international metropolis. But, now that Chen Liangyu is public enemy No. 1, time to can the idea! Interestingly, back in June, Hangzhou quietly took its fleet of luxury cabs off the street, Shanghaiist doesn’t want to speculate on that city’s mayor’s political future …

So what's gonna happen to the fleet of MB taxis? Rentals. The cars will be repainted to metallic black and sold to local luxury car rental services (but didn't they have green interiors?). Those of you still hellbent on having an MB experience in Shanghai can still do so, but it'll probably cost you a little more than 11 kuai.

More information is available on Sina.com (in Chinese).