Interesting Article On Retired Taxis In India

[cafeman]

Reminds me of a certain motorcycle and it's retirement a few years back

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/30/automobiles/shedding-door-pulls-mumbai-taxis-rattle-off.html?_r=0

[AgentX]

Hah, I just got back from a trip in Mumbai.  Those Fiat taxis are actually pretty cool, if scary due to all the rebuilding and jerry-rigging holding them together.  In a way they're cooler than the Hindustan Ambassador taxis that are ubiquitous in some other cities.

On another Indian taxi note, my wife is excited about my idea to buy an autorickshaw (3-wheeler) body and build it into a bed for our daughter.    Far cooler than the highly-desired race car bed of my youth.

[ace.cafe]

Another example of government meddling in the marketplace, where they don't belong.

[barenekd]

Hope they don't put a cease and desist date on a 25 year old Enfield!
Bare

[Arizoni]

I'm betting the Indian government wouldn't like my 35 year old GMC pickup either.

[AgentX]

I'm betting the Indian government wouldn't like my 35 year old GMC pickup either.

The Indian government is prone to grandstanding on things like these particular taxis while general (and specific) madness continues to reign on roads and in vehicle registrations.  Or lack thereof.

[GlennF]

If I read that article correctly they are not banning the cars from private registration just saying they cannot be registered as a taxi after they are more than 25 years old.

To be honest a 25 year age limit on licenced taxi-cabs does not seem that outrageous. If the last of these cars was made in 2000 than they will not disappear completely as taxi cabs until 2025.

[Lwt Big Cheese]

As long as they are road worthy what has age got to do with it?

[GlennF]

As long as they are road worthy what has age got to do with it?

For private vehicles not much.

However its easy to see why a government might be concerned about older vehicles being less safe (older design, no airbags etc) more polluting and probably more noisy.

There is also the possibility they may for political (or bribery) reasons actually be trying to favor the companies and get the low budget, potentially dodgy, single operators, with just the one cab that they cannot afford to update, off the road.

[Arizoni]

You mean,

"If you can't beat the competition, eliminate it."

[Lwt Big Cheese]

However its easy to see why a government might be concerned about older vehicles being less safe (older design, no airbags etc)

In India?
 more polluting

Than the process to manufacture a new one and dispose of the old?

and probably more noisy.

So make it law to be quieter and they will make after market silencers!

[AgentX]

The real solution would be to inspect vehicles for safety, regardless of age.  However, that's simply asking for yet another cottage industry of corruption to emerge with no discernible benefit to the overall public.

Wanna learn more about Mumbai and India in general?  I recommend Maximum City by Suketu Mehta.  Fantastic work and pulls no punches; cutting and somewhat soul-crushing.

[Mike_D]

AgentX is right on the money -- Maximum City is a great book.