Drivers pay more to taxi companies

JEDDAH: The increase in the cost of Japanese and Korean cars has been passed on to taxi drivers who are now paying a larger percentage of their fares to their companies.
Taxi companies are now charging their drivers about 25 percent more or up to SR 160 a day. These companies typically buy Japanese and Korean cars and with showroom prices on the rise, they are charging their drivers an additional SR 150 for Korean cars and SR 160 for Japanese cars.
According to one driver, some companies require their drivers to pay an additional SR 130 on Thursdays and Fridays.
Faisal Abu Shosha, head of the national committee for car agents at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said Japanese and Korean cars are popular in the Saudi market and are the favorite of taxi companies because of their low cost maintenance and repair as well as low fuel consumption.
While customers complain about high fares especially if the car is new, drivers say they have no choice as their taxi companies increase their fees.
Abdu Ismael, a Sudanese taxi driver in Jeddah, said the additional charges are “a heavy burden I worry about every morning.”
Previously he was able to keep the two-day weekend fares for profit, but with the increases he can only keep the fares from one.