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Just last week I was thinking about how many taxis I see around Phnom Penh compared to even 6 months ago or so. They seem to be all over at night now, and definitely more during the day too, so maybe there is room for a new company now.

I also recall people talking about how they've called taxi services and they get told everyone is busy and to call back later.

I'm guessing a lot more people are taking taxis now because, while the amount seems debatable, almost everyone agrees that crime has been UP in recent months. That's usually a good enough reason to take a taxi over a TukTuk, especially since the prices are comparable, and sometimes even cheaper.

They also claim to be the cheapest, charging only $1 per 1.6km.

I tried finding their contact number, which is usually kind of important here when trying to use a taxi service, but no dice.





Another company has entered Phnom Penh’s increasingly competitive taxi and limousine industry, putting the total number of companies at about five, according to city officials.

Taxi Rouge, which has a 12-strong fleet of red cabs, started its service at 5 p.m. Friday with a 1.6 km-trip from the corner of Street 63 and Sihanouk Boulevard to the Tuol Sleng Museum.

“I started this company because I saw that other taxi companies did not make their customers feel comfortable,” said Aum Rithyrith, the owner of Taxi Rouge.

“We saw that at least three other companies are competing to get profits, but none of them want to make customers ride a second time.”

Mr. Rithyrith said he plans to undercut other companies by charging riders $1 for every 1.6 km. Most city taxi companies charge between $0.75 and $1 per km.

He said the lower price was possible because his fleet is comprised of energy-efficient Toyota Priuses.

Officials at other taxi companies on Friday said they were concerned about the growing number of competitors in the city, especially because most people still travel by motodops and tuk-tuks.

“If there is an increase in taxi companies, then we will be unhappy,” said Eang Som Nimol, chief accountant at Global Taxi company.

“It will decrease the number of customers because they have more to choose from. Our profits will go down too.”

But Tous Sapha, deputy chief of the business registration office at the Ministry of Commerce’s department of commerce, said.....

.....click link to read the rest of the article.....

http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/anoth ... enh-64500/

Is a municipal bus system out of the question? I wonder how many cities in the world that are the size of PP have no municipal bus system, baht bus system or Jeepney bus system. Small cc motorcycles dragging carts may be good for local/short trips, but just primitive/ backwards for any more.

Sailorman wrote:Is a municipal bus system out of the question?

It was still going, as of yesterday. Very limited route though.

General Mackevili wrote:“If there is an increase in taxi companies, then we will be unhappy,” said Eang Som Nimol, chief accountant at Global Taxi company.

“It will decrease the number of customers because they have more to choose from. Our profits will go down too.”

Well that sounds ominous...

General Mackevili wrote:Just last week I was thinking about how many taxis I see around Phnom Penh compared to even 6 months ago or so. They seem to be all over at night now, and definitely more during the day too, so maybe there is room for a new company now.

I also recall people talking about how they've called taxi services and they get told everyone is busy and to call back later.

I'm guessing a lot more people are taking taxis now because, while the amount seems debatable, almost everyone agrees that crime has been UP in recent months. That's usually a good enough reason to take a taxi over a TukTuk, especially since the prices are comparable, and sometimes even cheaper.

They also claim to be the cheapest, charging only $1 per 1.6km.

I tried finding their contact number, which is usually kind of important here when trying to use a taxi service, but no dice.





Another company has entered Phnom Penh’s increasingly competitive taxi and limousine industry, putting the total number of companies at about five, according to city officials.

Taxi Rouge, which has a 12-strong fleet of red cabs, started its service at 5 p.m. Friday with a 1.6 km-trip from the corner of Street 63 and Sihanouk Boulevard to the Tuol Sleng Museum.

“I started this company because I saw that other taxi companies did not make their customers feel comfortable,” said Aum Rithyrith, the owner of Taxi Rouge.

“We saw that at least three other companies are competing to get profits, but none of them want to make customers ride a second time.”

Mr. Rithyrith said he plans to undercut other companies by charging riders $1 for every 1.6 km. Most city taxi companies charge between $0.75 and $1 per km.

He said the lower price was possible because his fleet is comprised of energy-efficient Toyota Priuses.

Officials at other taxi companies on Friday said they were concerned about the growing number of competitors in the city, especially because most people still travel by motodops and tuk-tuks.

“If there is an increase in taxi companies, then we will be unhappy,” said Eang Som Nimol, chief accountant at Global Taxi company.

“It will decrease the number of customers because they have more to choose from. Our profits will go down too.”

But Tous Sapha, deputy chief of the business registration office at the Ministry of Commerce’s department of commerce, said.....

.....click link to read the rest of the article.....

http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/anoth ... enh-64500/

Number on the back is: 092 99 00 00

Looks like 2 more numbers under that:
096 60 60 60 1
096 60 60 60 2

Not sure though, that seems like too many digits?

does anyone else find the name a bit , yuh knw?? of course its just a word in french but would people open panzer ss cabs or overseer cars or gulag 24 hour taxis?

Kampong Spooner wrote:does anyone else find the name a bit , yuh knw?? of course its just a word in french but would people open panzer ss cabs or overseer cars or gulag 24 hour taxis?

I know a lot of Khmer who don't have a clue what "Khmer Rouge" is. They just refer to that time as Pol Pot's government...

Or "the bad time".

Yeah, overall "Khmer Rouge" seems to be a western term for it... not a local one. So a local naming his taxi company that is likely not done/intended with reference to the genocide.

I also think you're seeing too much in that name, Spooner.

Cambodians may know the Khmer Rouges under their Khmer appellation "Khmer Krohom" but seeing a reference to the Khmer Rouge just because of the use of a very commonly used adjective to identify a color is having too much imagination.

Back on topic, it's a good thing that there are more options for local transportation.
I think that the Global Cambodia taxi chief accountant is actually doing a disservice to his company by whining about how competition would hurt them. A good business will welcome good competition because it can show the quality of its services in comparison to others and keep itself and its employees on their toes.