Big Bee taxi fleet set to launch in July, hires 200 drivers

The Big Bee fleet, one of the five newly licensed taxi fleets in Hong Kong, has planned to begin its services in mid-July, with around 200 drivers hired.

Operated by Sino Development (International) Company, the Big Bee fleet will feature red and yellow gradient taxis. It has planned to deploy 1,000 electric taxis across urban and New Territories routes, according to The Standard and HK01. 200 fully electric taxis are scheduled to arrive in Hong Kong by the end of this month, with the remaining 800 expected to arrive before July.

Franky Wong, director of Sino Development, said that there has been an overwhelming response to driver recruitment, with all initial quotas filled, according to the reports. The programme has signed up 200 drivers, offering a base salary of HK$7,000 plus trip-based commissions. The company aims to recruit a total of 800 drivers, with all vehicles expected to arrive by June, and is finalising the booking mobile application.

All recruits must undergo a minimum of eight hours of training that includes road safety regulations, vehicle operations, and customer service skills before they can start driving. The fleet will also implement a performance-based system where top performers will be rewarded with bonuses, while drivers who receive complaints may face penalties ranging from fewer assignments to termination. Additionally, the fleet will hire social workers to help drivers in managing work-related stress.

Addressing the previous issues related to the difficulty in booking taxis through some fleet apps, Wong said the Big Bee fleet app has entered the internal testing phase. He is confident that it will function smoothly once launched. Citizens will have the option to book taxis via the app or hail them on the street, with the street-hailing fare aligning with the meter rate. Additionally, the app will feature dynamic pricing for pre-booked rides, with fares potentially increasing by 20% to 30% compared to street hails during peak demand.

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The Big Bee fleet has adopted a "technology + environmental protection" dual-engine strategy, committed to solving the pain points of the traditional taxi industry. The entire fleet will use Geely's pure electric vehicles, equipped with ultra-long-range battery systems, expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 100,000 tons per year, closely aligning with Hong Kong's "2050 Carbon Neutrality" goal.

Moreover, all vehicles will be equipped with real-time GPS positioning, multi-language electronic payment options supporting Alipay, WeChat Pay, and credit cards, in-car 5G Wi-Fi, and barrier-free calling functions, all aimed at enhancing passenger travel efficiency and comfort.

Big Bee was one of the first batch of 3,500 taxis from five fleets offering premium services which began operating in Hong Kong earlier in March. The Hong Kong government hopes the Joie, SynCab, Amigo, Big Boss and Big Bee fleets will “bring a new look” to the ride-hailing sector that has faced complaints for poor service and refusal to adopt non-cash payments.

To ensure service quality, all fleets must provide online hailing services, customer service hotlines and different electronic communication channels for passengers to select appropriate vehicle types based on their needs, and rate driver services, according to the government. In addition, all fleet taxis will provide multiple electronic payment means, while safety devices and driver monitoring systems will be equipped for passengers' convenience and driving safety. For passengers' easy identification, all fleet taxis are required to display a fleet taxi certificate and a fleet taxi plate.

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