The taxi business, once considered one of the profitable sectors, has begun to lose its previous appeal in recent years. Some drivers and entrepreneurs engaged in taxi activities are distancing themselves from the sector and putting the cars they use up for sale.
So, what is the reason behind these changes in the taxi sector?
Medianews.az reports that transport expert Aslan Asadov gave an explanation to Milli.Az regarding the issue.
He stated that one of the main reasons for the decreased interest in the taxi sector is that this type of activity has become less profitable compared to previous years.
According to him, the expenses for entrepreneurs who want to engage in the taxi business have significantly increased:
"Previously, the primary expenses for those involved in taxi activities were related to purchasing and importing the vehicle into the country. Currently, the requirements for vehicles used as taxis have become stricter. Cars must be new, modern, and meet certain standards. This increases entrepreneurs' expenses and leads to a decline in interest in the sector."
The expert noted that the current situation also increases the risk of taxi shortages in the future:
"Due to increased expenses and stricter requirements, some individuals are distancing themselves from the taxi business. If this trend continues, a decrease in the number of taxis might be observed in the future. As a result, there could be problems with service accessibility and price increases."
According to A. Asadov, maintaining balance in the sector requires considering both service quality and the economic interests of entrepreneurs.
Transport expert Elmaddin Muradli told Milli.Az that recently, the sale of some taxi cars might be related to requirements concerning their service life.
According to the expert, vehicles with a long service life are now considered unsuitable for taxi activities and cannot obtain a differentiation badge:
"Cars manufactured long ago and used for a long time do not meet the requirements intended for taxi operations. For this reason, some drivers or car owners are forced to renew their vehicles. Consequently, those cars are put up for sale."
E. Muradli added that other factors also affect this situation:
"Certain restrictions and regulations are applied to taxi activities in Baku city. Some drivers believe that the process is not as favorable for them as before. Therefore, they prefer to move away from taxi activities and put their cars up for sale. This could be one of the reasons."
The expert emphasized that one of the main reasons for putting taxi cars up for sale is precisely the restrictions on using older cars as taxis:
"Because of this, many drivers have to renew their cars to continue their activities."