Welp MagazineA taxicab, also known as a taxi or a cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice.
In the United Kingdom, the spelling taxi is commonly used, although cab is also correct. Taxicabs are regulated throughout most if not all of the developed world. They are distinct from illegal instruction-bearing “gypsy cabs” which ply for hire in the developing world.
The word taxicab comes from the late 19th century French word taximeter, a combination of “taxe” (or “tax” in English) and “metre”.
History
The world’s first taxicab was the Parisian Voiturette, the invention of a Parisian named Jacques-Henri-Louis Rêve , who proposed the idea of a cab with an internal combustion engine, “geared like a steam engine”.
The 1823 U.S. Patent by New York inventor Andrew S. Halladandy is sometimes cited as the first U.S. patent to include an automobile design like a taxicab.
The first organized taxi service was in Paris in 1897, and the first taxicab stand was described at a police court in Paris in 1899.
On February 3, 2000, the BBC radio program “Last Word” was broadcast with the topic “What is the most innovative taxi?”. The winning taxi was the New York City Checker Marathon, a “modified” (restored) 1947 Checker, at the time used as a regular taxi.
The world’s most expensive taxicab at the time was a Mercedes, bought new in 2000.
The most expensive taxicab ever sold on eBay was a 2005 Mercedes, costing US$112,000 at the time of sale.
The most expensive non-Mercedes taxicab was a Rolls-Royce. In 2000, a Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith cost £86,000. In 2011, a 1982 Rolls-Royce Silver Spur sold for £1.65 million.
The growth of ride share companies like Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, etc. has created some highly innovative startups aimed at disrupting the market with their creative take on shared transportation.
1. IntiGo
The idea behind this startup: IntiGo is a bike taxi startup that allows users to book bike rides.
Headquarters: Ariana, Tunis, Tunisia
Industries: Taxi Service
Founders: Unknown
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2. macaron TAXI (KST Intelligence)
The idea behind this startup: macaron TAXI (KST Intelligence) is a cab chauffeur app
Headquarters: Seoul, Seoul-t’ukpyolsi, South Korea
Industries: Apps, Mobile Apps, Taxi Service
Founders: Unknown
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3. TaxiONE
The idea behind this startup: TaxiOne is a taxi booking service that combines all taxi services in the world in one application.
Headquarters: Sankt Petersburg, Saint Petersburg City, Russian Federation
Industries: B2B, B2C, Information Technology, Taxi Service, Transportation, Travel
Founders: Pavel Tsyganov, Sergey Alekseev
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4. Viggo
The idea behind this startup: Viggo is a Scandinavian ride-hailing service running 100% on zero-emission vehicles launching in Malmö and Copenhagen just after summer.
Headquarters: Copenhagen, Hovedstaden, Denmark
Industries: Apps, GreenTech, Information Technology, Taxi Service
Founders: Kenneth Herschel, Patrick Pereira, Peter Bardenfleth-Hansen, Philip Mourier
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5. PART
The idea behind this startup: PART boosts shared rides and optimizes seat occupancy of existing transportation services such as shuttles, taxis and ride-hailing services.
Headquarters: Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel
Industries: Information Technology, Ride Sharing, Software, Taxi Service, Web Apps
Founders: Eyal Roash
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6. LynkCity
The idea behind this startup: LynkCity brings the quickest link to Local Hackney Carriage Taxis near you. A safe, quick & easy app for rider & driver.
Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom
Industries: Taxi Service
Founders: Unknown
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7. Vooma
The idea behind this startup: Vooma connects passengers and drivers in real-time.
Headquarters: Unknown
Industries: Ride Sharing, Taxi Service
Founders: Unknown
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8. Rideshare Certified
The idea behind this startup: At Rideshare Certified, our goal is allow the millions of rideshare drivers working across the US to unite and connect through one platform.
Headquarters: Unknown
Industries: Taxi Service
Founders: Unknown
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9. Apptaxila
The idea behind this startup: Apptaxila is a digital platform for taxi booking using a mobile app.
Headquarters: Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
Industries: Mobile Apps, Taxi Service
Founders: Unknown
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10. Office Route India
The idea behind this startup: Office Route India provides rental cab and outstation cab services.
Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi, India
Industries: Taxi Service, Transportation
Founders: Unknown
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11. SpeedShuttle
The idea behind this startup: SpeedShuttle is a pickup service from home to train, VIP shuttle at the cost of a taxi service.
Headquarters: Unknown
Industries: Taxi Service
Founders: Unknown
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