RTA awards contract for 900 new taxis

Move is part of efforts to improve passenger transport services

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai has awarded a contract to procure 900 new vehicles for the Dubai Taxi fleet, including 370 environment-friendly hybrid vehicles fitted with dual fuel-electric engines.

The contract was awarded by the RTA’s board of executive directors, chaired by Mattar Al Tayer, director-general.

Al Tayer said: “The procurement of new vehicles is part of RTA’s efforts, represented by the Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC), to improve passenger transport services in Dubai. It enables the offering of unique and exclusive taxi services, meet the growing public demand, and enhance the level of service to achieve higher levels of customer happiness.”

Reducing carbon footprint

The contract includes the procurement of 142 Toyota Camry, 193 Toyota Innova, 55 Lexus, 370 hybrid Toyota Camry, and one Toyota Hiace. The contract also includes 15 Nissan Altima, 123 Hyundai Sonata, and one H1. Al Tayer added: “The procurement of 370 hybrid vehicles is in implementation of the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, VicePresident and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to optimise the use of energy in the UAE given its importance for people and development of various projects.

“The move is also part of RTA’s commitment to curbing carbon footprint of taxis by two per cent, as required by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and the Green Economy drive.

“The move also contributes to realising RTA’s strategic goal of ‘Safety and Environmental Sustainability’, besides supporting the Green Economy drive.”

environment-friendly hybrid vehicles to be procured