Agadir Authorities Suspend 130 Taxis After Tourist’s Viral Video Exposes Poor Conditions

The provincial authorities had issued a decree to ban the circulation of vehicles over 15 years old, including grand taxis, from January 1, 2024. The video of the German tourist revealed that this measure was not being respected and that these vehicles continued to circulate in the city. To address this situation, the authorities are urging taxi drivers with licenses to renew their vehicles over ten years old that are in poor condition, making transportation uncomfortable and unpleasant.

According to sources in the sector, some 130 first and second category taxis in poor condition should be suspended and prohibited from transporting customers in the city center. The owners of these taxis will have to change their vehicles to comply with legal requirements.

For their part, the professionals point out the difficulties in renewing their fleet, stressing that this ban will lead to 130 people becoming unemployed. They are rather calling on the authorities to issue temporary permits to owners who have already taken steps to renew their fleet, and to issue bans on a case-by-case basis.