'Yellow Cab is a Thing of the Past' New York's New Sensation Tesla 'Blue Cab' [Correspondent Diary]

Startup Level, 50 Model Y Taxis Gain Popularity
Passengers Praise...Drivers Also Satisfied
Ford Electric Cars Appear as Yellow Cab
Potential to Expand Electric Vehicle Operation Base

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min]

A Tesla taxi from Level is operating in front of Hudson Yards in Manhattan, New York City. (Photo by Baek Jong-min)

Recently, in Manhattan, New York City, Tesla vehicles painted blue are frequently seen. These are taxis operated by the scooter-sharing company 'Level'.

Level started its taxi service with 50 Tesla vehicles in August last year. Although New York City was initially negative due to concerns about the impact of Level's taxi service on the existing taxi industry, it eventually approved the service considering its eco-friendly nature. Initially, the operating range was restricted to below 42nd Street in Manhattan, but now it can operate up to 72nd Street. JFK and LaGuardia airports are also included in the permitted zones.

The interior of Level's Tesla taxis is premium compared to traditional taxis. A touchscreen mounted behind the front passenger seat displays the passenger's name upon boarding. Passengers can adjust the vehicle temperature themselves through this screen. A seat heating function is also provided for cold winters.

Yahia Adbelkafar, a Level Tesla taxi driver, said in an interview with local media, "Customers also enjoy experiencing Tesla."

Passengers' reactions are positive as well. One rider shared the Manhattan skyline viewed through the panoramic sunroof from the back seat of a Level taxi on their Twitter. Another user said, "It was an amazing experience. If the price is similar to other companies, I would choose Level taxi."

According to the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission, Level operated approximately 39,000 trips in the three months following the service launch in August.

Level taxis have also contributed to the expansion of New York City's electric vehicle charging infrastructure by opening Level taxi charging stations to nearby residents.

Ford Mach-E Taxi

In response to Level and Tesla's rapid progress, the traditional taxi 'Yellow Cab' has also started to transform.

A startup called Gravity recently chose Ford's electric vehicle 'Mach-E' as its taxi model, and it is already running on the streets of Manhattan. This is the first time the Mach-E is operated as a taxi.

Gravity's Mach-E taxis are equipped with premium-grade features but are available at regular taxi fares. Artificial intelligence (AI) technology has also been applied to prevent driver negligence.

Gravity aims to operate taxis with 50 Mach-E and Tesla Model Y vehicles. Gravity already operates its own charging station at a parking lot in Midtown.

Tesla vehicles also attracted attention at the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in Las Vegas. Although Tesla did not participate in CES, the service connecting exhibition halls via the underground tunnel 'Vegas Loop' using Tesla vehicles, which reduced a 30-minute walk to 2 minutes, drew the attention of journalists worldwide.

Those who experienced the Vegas Loop praised the project initiated by Tesla founder Elon Musk. It was a service that completely resolved the notorious traffic congestion.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At this CES, GM, Mercedes-Benz, and Sony showcased electric vehicles. Traditional automakers such as Hyundai, Kia, and Ford, as well as newcomers like Rivian and Lucid, are also targeting the electric vehicle market.

Some predict that Tesla's position will decline due to increased competition in electric vehicles, but Tesla's offensive, led by mass production, is now hard to ignore.

Tesla, which struggled with mass production of the Model 3 in 2018, sold 940,000 vehicles in 2021, just three years later. There are now forecasts that sales could reach 2 million units by 2024. This level threatens existing premium brands like Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

Not every market participant can become Tesla. However, it would be problematic if various services and platforms based on electric vehicles are overshadowed by Tesla. Insight to ride the changes in the future transportation environment brought by electric vehicles is urgently needed.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.