"We are discussing what the standards should be for taxis, and the standards will come out soon,'' said Liang Jianwei, director of the Taxi Management Division under the Beijing Communications Bureau. "Any car model from any automobile maker has the opportunity to enter the taxi market if it meets government standards.''

Although the taxi companies can pick any of the approved models, the mid-size Sonata is the city government's first choice, officials said.

"The communications bureau is only in charge of drawing up the standard and will not restrict the brands,'' said Tao Qun, bureau spokesman. "Taxi companies may choose models based on the upcoming standards.''

The standard will set specific requirements on the taxicabs' structure and performance, including the size of seats and trunks, Liang said.

The Sonata, which has yet to debut in the market, is produced by a 50-50 joint venture with Hyundai Motor Co, South Korea's large automaker, and Beijing Automotive Industry Corp.

About 2,000 Sonatas are expected to roll off the line by year's end.

In addition to the Beijing Hyundai Automobile Co, Shanghai Volkswagen Co, Citroen Fukang Co and other automakers from home and abroad have shown great interest in the city's taxi market, which now has 64,000 taxis with a renewal rate of 20 per cent to 30 per cent a year, bureau officials said.

Tao dismissed recent rumours that the city would unify the city's taxi fares to one higher rate.

He said Beijing would only raise the grade of the kind of vehicles used as taxis. The Sonata, he said, runs better than Xiali and Citroen Fukang, which charge rates of 1.2 yuan (15 US cents) and 1.6 yuan (19 US cents) per kilometre respectively.

Experts say the price of a Sonata may be equal to or higher than the price of a Santana, whose fare rate is 2 yuan (24 US cents) per kilometre.

The taxis will be upgraded before the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The low-price Xiali brand currently in use will disappear from the market because of its unsatisfactory appearance.

The new taxis are part of the city's efforts to improve services for tourists and give the city a better image.

In Shanghai, Gaungzhou, Nanjing and other big cities, local communications departments have also selected their favourite models for future taxis.

Shanghai, for example, has chosen the series of Santana automobiles for all of its taxis and replace cars each year.

(China Daily July 22, 2002)