The Transport Bureau (DSAT) has received a total of 40 bids for the 10 taxi licences it put up for tender in October, according to a local media report.
Each licence grants a company the right to operate up to 50 regular taxis, meaning 500 additional cabs could be on the streets in the near future.
DSAT launched the tender in response to vociferous demand for taxis from locals and visitors. When pandemic restrictions were lifted at the start of this year, it became evident that hundreds of taxis had dropped out of the market since a 2019 fleet peak of 1,900 – leading to a frustrating cab shortage.
[See more: These are the best tips for getting a taxi in Macao]
The new licences will be valid for eight years. Only locally-registered companies were eligible to apply, and minimum bids were set at 2.5 million patacas per licence.
DSAT officials intend to unseal the 40 submissions today. Each applicant will be assessed on three criteria: price offered, their proposed plan to manage a taxi fleet, and the type of vehicles they’ll use.
Companies are allowed to hold multiple taxi licences. Individual fleets are capped at 300 vehicles, however.
