Nanjing gears up for 'luxury' cabs

Nanjing plans to have 1,600 "luxury" taxies on the road before the Asian Youth Games kick off in mid-August.

However, reports that the new cabs will charge higher fares has not gone down well with residents, according to Shanghai-based newspaper Oriental Morning Post.

For those traveling less than 3 kilometers, the fare will be 3 yuan ($49 cents) more, Nanjing's price bureau said.

Those traveling greater distances can expect to pay about 20 percent more.

The luxury fleet could be made up of the Englon TX4. These vehicles, resembling the traditional London cab, cost more than 160,000 yuan each.

The vehicle can accommodate seven (including the driver) and is user-friendly for the disabled. But higher fuel consumption prompted the price bureau to increase the fare.

Yangtze Evening Post said the (price) bureau isn't happy about the title of "luxury taxi" as described in local media because the potential new cabs are not "Mercedes-Benz, BMW or Audi".

The hearing for Nanjing's new taxi fare is scheduled for July 25 and the final standard for the cab fare is expected to be decided in mid-August.