Since 1949, Standard, DeSoto Deluxe, Morris Oxford, Hillman Minx, Austin Cambridge, Mercedes W120 Ponton, Volvo, Ford Anglia and Vauxhall Velox were used up to the 1960s. Mercedes and Volvo were largely ran by Sunbeam taxi company in 60s. Since the 1970s, Japanese cars replaced the various European models used earlier. 1981 Sun Ling taxi is started all with Japanese taxi, among them, the Nissan Cedric Y31 had always and Toyota Crown Comfort YXS10 and been the most popular.
All taxis bear a semi-circular green plate on the front grille, and at the back of the vehicle indicating the number of seats available. Throughout history, most Hong Kong taxis have been 4-door saloons with bench seats in the front, thus allowing it to carry up to five passengers (driver excluded). In the early 1980s, 4-passenger taxis were introduced. Smaller saloons such as the Nissan Bluebird 910, Nissan Sunny B12, Toyota Corona (CT141) and the Mitsubishi Lancer were used. However, these were all phased out by mid-1990s. Since then and until 2008, all Hong Kong taxis have been 5-passengers vehicles. But from 2008, the new Toyota Comfort is equipped with floor shift automatic instead of column shift automatic, making the new Comfort a 4-passengers taxi again.
Australian Ford Falcon estate cars tried to enter the market in year 2000 but it was never popular.
Today, almost all taxis in Hong Kong are Toyota Comfort (YXS10) (over 99%), the minority being Nissan Cedric (Y31) saloons since Nissan Cedric (Y31) was discontinued from the end of 2005.
On 29 May 2007, there were reports that plans are afoot to introduce the LTI-licensed, Chinese Geely-manufactured, LPG-powered TX4 London Black Cabs into the Hong Kong taxi service market. A feasibility study is under way between the Hong Kong Productivity Council and Geely.
2013, BYD had shipped 35 sets of e-taxi as trial in HK with for passenger.
Since 1 August 2001, no more diesel taxis were allowed to be imported into Hong Kong, and from 1 January 2006, driving a diesel taxi on the streets of Hong Kong became illegal. Therefore all taxis in Hong Kong are currently running on LPG. Although LPG-powered vehicles are supposed to be relatively non-polluting, and do indeed reduce roadside pollution, a 2007 study by Polytechnic University indicated that older LPG taxis emitted at least double the amount of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons compared to diesel. But the government still claimed that properly maintained LPG engines reduce pollution by 50% to 200%.
But as far as I know there is still ONE taxi is powered by Diesel it used to parked at Ho Man Tin Road. His Plate no. is …2649 ( TBA). The Bumper is still Chrome plated one whereas all other Crown taxi is rubber bumper in HK. Why there is such an exception, I think I need to find out Why!?
Most importers just import red color base cars. For green and blue taxis, the owners have to convert the cars into the correct color, and they usually only paint the exterior, and people can still see the original red color from the door gap or engine compartment.
Red for Kowloon and HK, green for NT and Blue for Lantao Island.
HK Snob
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