Taxi Crackdown in Morocco: The Great Cleanup Has Begun

A major cleanup is underway in the taxi sector. Before the House of Representatives, the Minister of the Interior revealed the extent of the controls carried out this year. Result: thousands of violations observed, leading to the temporary or permanent suspension of more than 1,500 professional authorizations.

For Abdelouafi Laftit, the objective is clear: "It is in the interest of all parties that taxis operate within a structured framework." A strategic study is also underway to diagnose the ills of this vital sector, which employs nearly 180,000 drivers and has around 77,200 vehicles (the majority of which are grand taxis).

While the repressive aspect is activated, the ministry notes significant progress in the modernization of the fleet. Thanks to the renewal programs (currently on hold), the average age of vehicles has dropped from 25 to 8 years, transforming the urban landscape with 80% of the fleet renewed.

However, the minister does not hide the persistent challenges. Despite the efforts, user dissatisfaction remains high regarding the quality of service. The sector suffers from resistance to change, particularly in the face of digitalization (low use of GPS and applications), and must deal with the competition of unauthorized transportation and a legal framework that struggles to keep up with the rapid changes in mobility in Morocco.