A private car hire company based in Oxford has adopted the term minicab literally with the unveiling of their latest rental fleet comprised entirely of Smart Cars.

The new scheme, named Solocar, which uses the miniature two-seaters, has sparked widespread interest across the UK.

George Raithby, company chief and project designer, was attracted to the scheme because of the low operating costs and the environmentally friendly nature of the vehicles. Customers will also be drawn to the Smart Cars as they will receive a 20% discount in fare price when compared to regular taxis due to the low running costs.

The trial is perfectly suited to the University town of Oxford, which has a proud reputation for its environmentally friendly practices, with the majority of residents preferring bicycle as their means of transport. Several Oxford councilors have already backed the Solocar scheme as it is seen as the perfect fit for the city’s green ethos.

Market research undertaken by Mr Raithby prior to the launch indicated that 60% of existing taxi trips were by single passengers with limited baggage. To date, feedback has been positive with customers appreciative of the sustainability theme and also the novelty of the Smart Car experience.

The success of the scheme has led to the firm aiming to expand from its current fleet of 4 vehicles to 20 by early 2010.

With thanks to www.limobroker.co.uk for the above information. For more details please refer to their website.