The old Holden Astra may have blossomed into a neat package with plug-in hybrid technology.
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Opel has lifted the sheet off its new Astra with plug-in hybrid power, and it’s a tech-packed offering in the popular small car segment. What a shame Holden isn’t around to secure this one although new Opel/Vauxhall parent company Stellantis may just do that in the future.

ENGLAND – The number of licensed taxi vehicles across England has dropped by a staggering 9,500 in the first twelve months since the Coronavirus pandemic first broke according to latest data released.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has released annual statistics covering the taxi and private hire industry across England.

Within the stats it shows a sharp decrease in the number of licensed cabs in the 12 months starting from 31 March 2020.

​In March 2020 the number of licensed taxis stood at 67,800, but has now dropped by 14% to just 58,300 vehicles in the 12 month period.

Last month the Victorian Regulator’s CEO, Aaron de Rozario, finished his time with Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria (CPVV) and moved into a position with the National Transport Commission.

​Six years ago Mr de Rozario took over the helm from the acting CEO James Holyman, and at that time said that he “was looking forward to meeting Victorian stakeholders and working with the industry to ensure a sustainable future”.

​But, how did that work out? It was surprisingly not so good for Victorian stakeholders!

NORTHERN IRELAND – In Coleraine, County Londonderry, Royal Cabs owner William McDonald said his firm had lost a third of its drivers over the last 14 months.

“We have nine people working for us at the moment. The other men found other work and have left the company,” he said.

“The last few years there has been a shortage of taxi drivers and the pandemic hasn’t made it easier.”

“Now places are starting to open we certainly need more drivers and more cars on the road. The night work is picking up a little but the drivers aren’t there.”
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“The last few years there has been a shortage of taxi drivers and the pandemic hasn’t made it easier.”

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In July 2020, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ranked eighth in KPMG’s annual Autonomous Vehicles Readiness Index, performing well in technology infrastructure and the willingness of its people and government to embrace driverless cars.

Cruise, an Autonomous Vehicle (AV) company backed by General Motors, is getting ready to launch its robotaxi service in Dubai very soon, with plans to have up to 4,000 vehicles in operation by 2030.

Officials are wanting 25% of all taxi trips in Dubai to completed by AV taxis, buses and copters by 2030.

​RTA Director General, Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, said: “Selfdriving vehicles contribute to raising the level of traffic safety on the roads, as human error is the main cause of more than 90 percent of accidents.

Your one and only Australian industry magazine has had a name change!

DRIVE NOW - Voice of the Australian Commercial Passenger Transport Industry.

For 51 years (from May 1966 - April 2017) our magazine was known as Taxi Talk - Voice of the Victorian Taxi Industry.

Back in May 2017 we rebranded the magazine to be DRIVE A2B in light of the fact that the passenger transport industry is no longer only about taxis. We found that we were reporting on news for taxis, hire cars, limousine services and rideshare entities.
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However, late 2017, Cabcharge Australia also had a name change — becoming A2B Australia.

Uber is spending US$250 million to persuade drivers to get back on the road so it can pay them less again.

USA & CANADA — Uber has announced it plans to spend an additional US$250 million on “boosted incentives and guarantees” to persuade drivers to get back on the road amid a shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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“In 2020, many drivers stopped driving because they couldn’t count on getting enough trips to make it worth their time. In 2021, there are more riders requesting trips than there are drivers available to give them — making it a great time to be a driver,” Dennis Cinelli, the head of Uber’s US and Canada ride-hailing business, said in a blog post.