Why most taxis are Mercedes

So, the vast majority of taxis are Mercedes E-Class, then there are some Opel and Volkswagen.
Just wondering, why are there almost none Bmw and Audi (at least in Frankfurt) ?

Because Mercedes give taxis incredibly good deals on their cars. They also build special models that are just meant to be used as taxis.

When you want to know, you ask the people involved. Every Monday night a group of taxi drivers come to the bar. They confirmed what Allershausen wrote: Mercedes gives a 14% rebate as long as the car is used as a taxi for at least one year (no doubt they write off costs as "marketing"). You'll see more and more VW Turans (quasi-vans) because VW is not only also offering good price deals, they're offering buy-backs after two years.

The colour is set by law: "Hellelfenbein, RAL 1015" (light ivory). You can simulate the colour on your computer with RGB FFF8C9 (255 248 201).

woof.

Which I have to admit I appreciate. Although in portland if you want a clean taxi you go with a yellow one, if dont care go with the black and white one.

On another note I remember an american telling me he thought it was weird that the police/fire dept/ambulance services have the same siren tone. I mean if you think about it doesnt really matter as long as you get out of the way.

please feel free to shoot me down, but I thought a large part of the reason why they all drive mercs is becuase they are automatic so arnt as annoying stuck in traffic and also because the engines just go on for ever?you only have to see the milage on all the mercs in africa to know that those things can do hundreds of thousands of miles

my english bimmer has 400k on it, and its a auto..but here all the best taxis are Toyotas

OK. consider yourself shot down. Imagine a couple lines of vicious brow-beating here because I'm too busy to actually write it now.

The reason most taxis are automatics is because driving through city traffic for a 12-hour shift 4-7 days/week takes a serious toll on the left knee. Furthermore automatics have considerably improved with regards to mileage so that the fuel usage difference is negligable. Beyond that automatics shift smoother which means increased passenger comfort.

woof.

Both BMW and Audi make automatic cars, so that's not the reason. Their famed reliability is true, or at least it was. In recent years Mercedes quality has plummeted, although they have improved recently. Their standings in the JD Power listings went from being up the top to very near the bottom a few years ago.

@baddoggie

well I thought thats what I was saying? automatics are nicer to drive in traffic cos theres no stamping up and down all the clutch all day, and merc auto gear boxes are quite nice and smooth to glide around town in and not scare your customers

Worm, in fairness to the mutt, you said that they drive Mercs because they are automatics. That sentence doesn't hold water since Merc make manual and automatic as do most of the car manufacturers represented in the taxi business.

In spite of the obvious widespread 'publicity' factor, I can't understand why Mercedes should be so keen to encourage the widespread association of their quality car brand with the taxi trade. Admiteddly they're selling a lot of - heavily discounted - cars this way but, to see Mercs used practically everywhere as taxis, de-values their status imo.

most taxis in my home town are white skodas.

Well I don't think the colour is set by law anymore, at least here in Heidelberg as recently I have seen quite a few taxi's of different colours.

I do actually like the fact that the taxis are all (mostly) the same colour, but it would also put me off ever getting a car in that colour. I was in England a few years ago & after leaving the pub was walking to the taxi stand & at the front was a beige merc, so I walked over & went to open the door, my friend managed to grab me before I got in. I'm sure others have done the same thiong after a few sherberts

1) The car is practical.
2) Almost every taxi seems to be one
3) They must get decent mileage
4) They can't be excessively expensive
5) You, as a passenger, sit in back in comfort
6) The guy driving it must be even more comfortable since he does this 12 hours a day

Do you see where this is going? Daimler know what the fuck they're doing. Forinjers come here and the first car they get into is normally a Merc.

woof.

Aha, so that's why you're not marketing manager at Mercedes! They are ALL of a different opinion.

yep. Which is why BMW don't give the big discounts for taxis. It is not just the up front discount, though, they also offer the whole package from a ready made taxi with all the extra fittings and colour to discounts on parts and servicing. However, a taxi friend of mine from Berlin said all his taxi colleagues were turning away from Mercedes in droves because the reliability has plummeted with the current E-class (some even prefer to drive 15-year old E-classes in preference to new ones) whilst the life-time costs have shot up. They say it is now cheaper to run a VW or an import for 3 years then dump it rather than try and run a Merc for 5-10 years.

Or it ups the status of the quality of life in Germany. I think though that Mercedes doesn't view their brand identification the way that you do. Sure it's a Luxury Brand in other coutries, because they are marketed that way, but that's certain models. And they have a reputation for quality as well because they don't fall apart like Anglo-American brands the world over. But they make trucks and vans as well. Should they not want to be associated with Truckers and shippers who are just as 'de-valued' as Taxi drivers? Mercedes views it self as the worlds leading auto maker (whether it's true or not isn't the point) that means all types of vehicles; Lorries, Taxis, Luxury Cars, family Sedans. Its not so hard to understand really.

I think the reason BMW isn’t keen on having their cars as taxis is that they appear to be going for more a luxury/sport market where Mercedes is luxury/comfort. So the marketing makes sense for each business travelers to ‘try out’ a Merc as a taxi when visiting Germany… but it doesn’t make sense for BMW in the same way since it is more of a �driver’s car�

If I were BMW marketing, I would heavily subsidize rental agencies though.

I like my Mercedes bus

but, until I came to Germany I didn't realize how controlled and orchestrated Mercedes (and to a lesser extent BMW) image is in the states. Makes me kind of wonder how many Mercedes owners in the states know their car company makes more than just $50k+ luxury autos. If they came here, I could imagine a few of the particularly pompous ones being irritated that a dump truck has the same emblem as their $90k SLK.

you mean like Sixt?

the thing is, though, although selling cars to rental agencies is a good way to get bums in seats for "test drives" it is a double edged sword. The prices the rental companies have come to expect and the residual value of the cars mean the business makes very little financial sense. Most sales to rental companies are on a guaranteed buy-back basis. i.e. you sell the car the car to the rental company at an agreed discount (often not dis-similar in level to dealer margins in Germany) but the real hit comes at the inflated price which you are contracted to buy the car back at. You (as the manufacturer) then take the hit when it comes to disposing of the car.

Automatics make me feel seasick. I hate driving them which kinda restricts quite a bit when looking for a car. *Most* decent Mercs are autos, BMW dealers treat me like shit - so I drive a Volvo!

p.s. That and I have no sense of style and no cash!

Actually it's set by the State in which the taxi is registered. For most states it is Hellelfenbein. Baden-Würtemburg relaxed the conditions in 2005 - taxis there can be any colour. The FDP in Hessen are currently proposing relaxing of the rules there too, which they want to extend country-wide.

I got into a BMW taxi once. It was not comfortable.

probably cos that massive chip on your shoulder meant you couldn't lean back into the seat properly.

actually, it is true that here in london, I cant remember a single time that I got into an unlicensed minicab that was a BMW, but about 90% of them seem to be mercs too

i thought they were all 20 year old clapped out Nissans.

I think that it's just the way that the cars are conceptualized which is fundamentally different. Even bigger BMWs are about the driver and his experience behind the wheel, whereas Mercedes seems to take passenger comfort more into consideration.

That might actually be funny if it weren't so pathetically hypocritical considering you work for the company. Does the marketing manual emphatically state that employees should insult potential customers who don't hold their overpriced over hyped product line in a favorable light?

Every car that I have ever purchased had the one requirement that even my father (he is two inches taller than me) could sit in the back seat without feeling like a sardine. That rule came about when my "tall" family made the mistake of buying a Ford Fiesta during the gas crunch years. At least that mistake didn't cost too much and it did get nearly 52mpg, but no one wanted to drive it or worse ride in it.

I think it is cool that most all the taxis are Mercs and it is definitely a great marketing tool for both tourism and product placement in the minds of travelers and buyers.

You lot don't know nuffink. I talked to a bloke down the pub who's brother had a Mercedes once, and he assured me that it's because only that weak, sickly yellow could go with the three-pointed star. Audis and BMWs just look ill coloured that way.

EDIT: And here's a thought: McLaren Mercedes should be faded yellow.

we don't consider people who buy Mazda's to be worthy enough for a BMW, so they are free game.

That Japanese market must be a bitch then and then all those higher quality rickshaws.

I drive a Mazda now and I partially agree with Owain - ugly ugly soulless practical cars.

Mazdas aren't Japanese, then again, most people think Volvo is Swedish and Jaguar is British

Nope

Mazda's are most certainly Japanese.

Current owner's/investors location can't change that.

You realize, the Ford Escort and Mazda Protege were basically the same car right?

As indeed are the Ford Focus, Mazda 3 and the Volvo C30.

segmuller decals not included...

Actually the Mazda Tribute (car I drive) IS the Ford Escape

Why's it called The Escape?

Is that coz you want to get away from it?

Blindin' bit of marketing I thunk not.

This explains a mystery to me. There is a company in Nassau Bahamas, Meter Taxi I believe it is called, that used beige colored Mercs for as long as I can recall, at least back in the 1960s and 1970s. Were Mercs used in Munich back then?

Puss coloured Mercs were used in Munich when dinosaurs still roamed the Earth.

I think Mercedes have been used for taxis for as long as there have been taxis! Certainly they were used when I first came to Germany as a teenager in the 70's.

Nah, it used to be called the Bronco... but you know, they wanted to distance themselves from that whole fleeing criminal thing...

[edit]... Save our Bluths!

Well... I suppose there was already a Trademark on the name Pile o'Shit.

Why am I writing this? It's so obvious.
Mercedes gives juicy discounts to Taxi firms.
(I wonder why???).
Despite this, the percentage of Mercedes Taxi's has continued to reduce..
Other makes have more suitable, reliable and cheaper vehicles - Toyota for example
(and where is the Toyota Corolla built? in trendy Derby, England!!)