New premium taxis offering free Wi-Fi and mobile charging to hit Hong Kong streets
Pilot scheme will see 32 vehicles deployed in Central between January 16 and 27
Taxis offering mobile charging, free Wi-Fi and the option to pay by credit card will hit the road in Hong Kong soon.
The 32 premium taxis operated by SynCab will first be deployed in Central, the city’s busy business district, between January 16 and 27 in a pilot scheme, with the aim of cutting rush-hour waiting times for office workers.
Sonia Cheng, the operator’s executive director, expected the new fleet to improve user experiences and lift the image of the industry.
Over the past decade, the volume of cab usage in the city has dropped from 1.3 million daily trips to a million amid complaints of bad service. Operators are also struggling with rising costs and stiffer competition with the expansion of the MTR network and the rise of ride-sharing service Uber.
Free Wi-Fi and USB charging services will be provided during the ride at no additional charge compared to ordinary taxis – if you are lucky enough to flag down one of the premium cabs.
Otherwise, an additional service fee of HK$40 will be charged for journeys booked through the company’s self-developed taxi hailing app.
Customers will also be allowed to pay via credit card and electronic wallet Tap&Go.
Cheng said the company would consider expanding rush-hour pick-up services to more busy districts such as Wan Chai, Admiralty and Quarry Bay.
