Mainland Chinese joint venture launches new electric taxi in Hong Kong

A mainland Chinese joint venture called SAIC-GM-Wuling has introduced a new electric taxi called the Darion Taxi in Hong Kong next month. The six-seat vehicle, which will be distributed by DH Legend Motors, boasts a range of 540km (336 miles) and can charge in just 30 minutes. Wong Kin-man, the distributor's director and general manager, said the car is designed to meet Hong Kong's demand and comes with a 500,000km warranty, priced around HK$300,000. The company aims to sell at least 300 of these taxis.

However, Wong Po-keung, chairman of the Hong Kong Taxi Owners' Association, noted that the quick charging capacity of the new model is appealing to taxi owners. He added that the vehicle's range in real-world conditions might be around 400km, taking into account factors like traffic congestion and air conditioning use. The Environment and Ecology Bureau reported that Hong Kong had 988 electric taxis in 2025, a small fraction of the city's total around 18,000 cabs. The government aims to have 3,000 electric taxis by 2027.

Mark Chong Ho-fung, a lawmaker, highlighted the lack of quick charging facilities as the biggest obstacle to meeting the target. He pointed out that taxi drivers need to charge their vehicles within an hour while on breaks—covering significant distances daily—and that they can only operate efficiently if they can charge their cars fully during these intervals.

Chong suggested that the government set up more fast chargers at popular tourist spots, such as the airport and Disneyland, and at gas stations to reduce traffic for petroleum- and gas-powered taxis.