The Antwerp taxi company VHF Taxi from Brasschaat, once a pioneer in electric mobility, has been declared bankrupt.
The company received a lot of attention ten years ago by being one of the first in Flanders to electrify its entire fleet. Instead of opting for cheaper electric models, VHF Taxi decided to invest in Teslas. At the time, it sounded like this investment would pay for itself, but the harsh reality turned out to be different. The bankruptcy marks a new blow for the Antwerp taxi sector, which has already seen other prominent players disappear.
In 2014, VHF Taxi announced that it would switch entirely to electric vehicles. The taxi company already had a fleet of twenty electric cars, including two Tesla Model Ss. According to the company, these cars were not only environmentally friendly, but also met the increasingly demanding needs of their customers. “We wanted to focus on a sustainable future,” management stated at the time. The company was thus the first Flemish taxi company to drive entirely electrically in a non-urban environment.
The investment was significant. Teslas are among the more expensive electric vehicles, but VHF Taxi was convinced that this choice would be profitable in the long term. However, this was not enough to keep the company afloat.
However, for the time being it remains unclear whether other taxi companies in Flanders will be willing to make the leap to full electrification, given the challenges that VHF Taxi faced.
According to the National Association of Companies with Taxi and Location Vehicles with Chauffeur (GTL), VHF Taxi has suffered greatly from the economic consequences of the corona pandemic. Demand for taxi services collapsed completely during the lockdowns, making it difficult for companies in the sector to cover their fixed costs. For VHF Taxi, which had invested heavily in expensive vehicles, the situation became untenable.
increased competition
In addition, the GTL points to the increased competition in the Antwerp taxi sector. Since 2020, the number of independent taxi drivers in the region has almost doubled. “There are now twice as many taxis driving around as at the beginning of 2020,” explains a spokesperson for the GTL. “For a company like VHF, which was tied to high costs due to its investments in electric vehicles, this was a huge challenge.”
The bankruptcy of VHF Taxi is not the only thing that has hit the Antwerp taxi sector. Last year, a other major player the books. These developments are creating uncertainty in a market that is already under pressure due to the rise of ride-sharing services such as Uber.
The GTL regrets the loss of VHF Taxi. "It is a shame that a company with such an innovative vision and ambition has to give up the fight. This shows how vulnerable our sector is in times of economic crisis and increasing competition," the organization says.
The bankruptcy of VHF Taxi raises questions about the feasibility of electric mobility within the taxi sector. Although electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular, it remains an expensive investment, especially for companies operating in a competitive market. Despite the difficulties, the GTL continues to believe in a future for electric taxis, although they believe it is important that more support is provided by the government to help companies make the transition to sustainability.
