Smart cars get taxi fleet attention

An Oxford private hire firm running Smart cars is charging customers on average 20% less than those of a ‘normal’ taxi.

Solocar owner George Raithby said: “Sixty per cent of the trips our existing cars took into Oxford were for a single passenger with little or no luggage, so there was definitely potential for using a Smart.

"Because our fuel bills are 15% lower with these cars, our passengers are finding that, for once, the environmentally compatible option isn’t more expensive.”

Raithby is hoping to return to expand the Solocar fleet to 20 by April next year.

Dawn Smith, corporate sales executive at the Oxford Smart retailer said: “The Smart really does make perfect business sense, not only because our unprecedented offers mean it can currently be owned for a finance payment of under £100 per month, but also when safety, reliability, emissions, tax and whole life costs are considered.

"And as Solocar’s smarts demonstrate, the smart can literally be a rolling billboard when it comes to effectively advertising a business.

“Best of all though, there’s never been a better time for businesses to consider the smart. It’s especially ideal in the current economic climate and as a result of the recent changes in company car legislation, the contract hire charges for smarts emitting under 110g/km CO2 are recoverable against taxable rental.”

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