Toyota Camry hybrid sedans join Dubai taxi fleet

UAE Toyota dealer Al-Futtaim Motors has entered a deal with Dubai RTA-franchisee Cars Taxi to supply them with a fleet of Toyota Camry Hybrid sedans for use as taxis.

Al-Futtaim Motors has supplied 28 of the hybrid sedans, making Cars Taxi the first private company in the UAE to own a hybrid taxi fleet. They had previously supplied Dubai Taxi Corporation with a fleet of 20 hybrid Camry sedans following a 3-year trial run on 10 vehicles, the results of which claim a 33% improvement in fuel efficiency and a 33% reduction of CO2 emissions. Given the mileage that taxis do, that’s apparently a savings of over Dhs 12,000 in fuel per car, which should go some way in offsetting the higher price of the hybrid version.

In 2014, Toyota marks 17 years as a manufacturer of hybrid cars and has sold around 6 million hybrid vehicles, with a portfolio that currently offers 23 hybrid models worldwide. However, there are no short-term plans to offer Toyota hybrids to the public, aside from the pricier Lexus hybrid models.