FROM Sept 1, SMRT will be rolling out the first of its Chrysler 300C taxis.
With a flag-down rate of $5, it is the most extravagant taxi here,outstripping even the luxury Mercedes-Benz E-class cabs' flagdown of $3.20 by over 50 per cent.
To book the 300C costs $10,with the advance booking charge set at $20.
SMRT clearly wants to position the 300C - which many say resembles a Bentley -as a premium taxi that is a cut above the rest, driven by 'service ambassadors' instead of regular cabbies.
The 300C was produced by the now demerged DaimlerChrysler. It is based on an old Mercedes E-class platform.
SMRT Taxis vice-president, Mr Lo Chee Wen, said: 'SMRT believes that our Chrysler 300C taxis would offer corporate visitors both locally and from abroad a new choice for travel.'
Meanwhile, SMRT said that it would start imposing a 30-cent fuel surcharge for its compressed- natural-gas cabs from Sept 1.
With the move, 11-month-old Prime Taxis will be the only cab operator 'identifiable by its bronze-coloured cabs' that is not levying a fuel surcharge.
Prime managing director Neo Nam Heng said the company will take another poll among its drivers before deciding whether to follow the rest.
This article was first published in The Straits Times on August, 27, 2008.
