Solar Transport Automotive Resources Corp., (STAR Corp.), BYD’s exclusive Philippine distributor, has announced their partnership with World Transport to roll out its first taxi fleet. STAR Corp. managing director Mark Andrew Tieng together with general manager Jose Paolo Soriano presented the first recruit, a BYD F3 taxi, to World Transport during a ceremony at the Shaw Boulevard BYD Showroom.
“These are exciting times for STAR Corp. as we roll out our first taxi fleet in the Philippines. The BYD F3 is designed for the Filipino commuting public, who deserve more space and comfort. It is fuel efficient and represents real value for money,” said Tieng.
The BYD F3 Taxi is a four-door compact sedan with built-in provisions for a Taxi Meter, Top Mount Light, and a “For Hire” signage. It is bigger, wider, longer and roomier than all other current taxi models, able to fit up to five occupants while maintaining ample leg- and elbowroom.
It is powered by a Euro 4 compliant 1.5L 473QE engine, a fuel-efficient power plant that combines VVL (Variable Valve Lift) and EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) technology to maximize power while minimizing fuel consumption and emissions. The engine is paired with a five-speed manual transmission.
The F3 is also installed with various safety features such as a Bosch two channel Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with non-stop monitoring Delphi EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution), full-size front and rear fog lamps, rear defogger, LED brake lights, as well as a third LED high-mounted brake light.
“With its high-quality and excellent performance, the F3 has had wide satisfaction ratings in several countries worldwide. In China it is used as police cars in Guangdong, China by the Huizhou Police Station as well as the local social safety service vehicle since 2008. The F3 is also being used by the Chinese government and its judicial department in Henan, Xian and Shenzhen, China, as their service vehicles,” Tieng shared.
“In other Asian countries, the Middle East, and even Latin America, the F3 is the car of choice for taxi fleet operations as well – in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 2008; in Egypt, through their Financial Department of Cairo, where the F3 replaced 80,000 city taxi units in 2009, and in the Dominican Republic, which acquired 500 F3 taxis in 2010,” he added.
Pictured above: STAR Corp. managing director Mark Andrew Tieng (first from left) and general manager Jose Paolo Soriano (second from left) presents the BYD F3 taxi to partners from World Transport.