Metro Manila taxi fleets shift to app-based hailing as operators court EV switch

Fourteen taxi operators in Metro Manila have formed an alliance to launch a common hailing platform, “MetroTaxi One,” in November, in the industry’s most concerted effort yet to pull passengers back from app-based ride services.

The alliance represents about 3,200 units, according to organizers. Booking through the platform will follow metered fares with no surge pricing, and riders can pay in cash or through major e-wallets. A pilot covering Quezon City and Manila will run for two months before citywide rollout.

The group is also hedging on electrification. Starting in the first quarter of 2027, 300 electric sedans will join member fleets for a 12-month trial, funded partly through lease-to-own packages negotiated with a regional EV importer. Operators say falling battery prices have narrowed the cost gap with petrol units to roughly 15 percent on a total-cost-of-ownership basis.

“The taxi has been the honest cab of this city for decades — now it must also be the connected cab. Our drivers deserve bookings that reach them directly, without a middle layer that decides what a trip is worth,” said Roberto Santos-Lim, chair of the newly formed operators’ alliance.

Regulators welcomed the consolidation. Officials at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said a common platform could simplify compliance monitoring, though driver groups have asked for guarantees on how fares and bookings will be distributed among member fleets.

The alliance said it is negotiating airport queue integration with Manila’s two main terminals and aims to grow the platform to 6,000 accredited units by 2028.