VIP-bilenes drosjekrav: – Uakseptabelt

Oslo environment ministry demands that Bislet Limousine's black executive cars for VIPs must have windscreen bars, meters and branding like regular taxis. The company has submitted a request for exemption from the requirements, but it has not yet been processed. Meanwhile, Bislet CEO Morten Stovner-Sørlie has been "banished" during the processing of the case.

Oslo's group leader, Magnus Birkelund, believes the city has been "tightfisted". Birkelund says the municipality should have been "service-minded" and found practical solutions for businesses and residents when possible. Instead, it has taken a hard line. Bislet Limousine transports high-profile state officials, diplomats, top executives, rock stars and football players who visit Oslo.

On the customer list are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, oil giant Equinor and the largest concert promoter in Norway, Live Nation. Both Equinor and Live Nation are concerned about security if the cars must look like regular taxis. Bislet's cars previously operated as "company wagons", but after the taxi reform in 2020, they fell into the same category as regular taxis.

The taxi reform passed in Stortinget by Høyre, Frp, Venstre and KrF. Oslo is now governed by Høyre and Venstre, who have a cooperation agreement with Frp and KrF. Oslo's Høyre group leader, Hassan Nawaz, thinks the transport department should consider revising certain parts of the rulebook in the long term. He argues that the new requirements are hard to understand and have no practical function for the assignments they perform.

Nawaz thinks the new rules are unjustifiable. Oslo's Høyre group leader, Hassan Nawaz, argues that the municipality should have been "service-minded" and found practical solutions for businesses and residents when possible. Instead, it has taken a hard line. Bislet Limousine believes it is "outrageous and environmentally unfriendly" to demand that they park a large part of their fleet unused when they could be used for other VIP assignments.

They point out that similar companies in Rogaland and Møre og Romsdal have been granted exemptions until 2029. Bislet Limousine says the situation is "extra demanding" because similar companies in Rogaland and Møre og Romsdal have been granted exemptions until 2029.