HOME IN FOCUS

End of road for last Toyota Crown taxis

New emission rules meant most got scrapped and the remaining few are on the way out

Above: A crane flattening the Crown taxi at the Kheng Kheng scrapyard. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Transport operator ComfortDelGro’s Hyundai Sonata taxis parked at the company’s premises in Sin Ming Drive. ST PHOTO: SONG TAO
The decommissioning process begins when the selected taxi is driven to the company workshop in Sin Ming Drive. ST PHOTO: SONG TAO
Mechanics Gao Fei (left), 32, and Yam Kang Min, 24, removing the engine of a Hyundai Sonata taxi. It takes them about an hour to complete the job. ST PHOTO: SONG TAO
Moove media employees Chong Wee Siong (left), 37, and Lim Hua Seng, 36, covering the Sonata with vinyl stickers before it was sent to the Salvation Army’s Peacehaven Nursing Home last month. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
The Sonata being towed from the ComfortDelGro workshop in Sin Ming Drive to its new home in Peacehaven Nursing Home, where it replaces the Toyota Crown cab for use in rehabilitative purposes. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
The parts of the Toyota Crown cab being dismantled at the Kheng Kheng scrapyard in Sungei Kadut. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
The parts of the Toyota Crown cab being dismantled at the Kheng Kheng scrapyard in Sungei Kadut. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Parts of the Crown dismantled and left on the floor of the scrapyard. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
The Toyota Crown on its way to being flattened by a crane at the Kheng Kheng scrapyard in Sungei Kadut. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Zhaki Abdullah
Updated
Nov 05, 2018, 06:25 AM
Published
Nov 05, 2018, 05:00 AM
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

Toyota Crown taxis were once the kings of the road here and ruled the streets in terms of numbers.

In 2006, there were about 19,000 Crowns - or 80 per cent of all taxis - on the roads at the time.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

ST One Digital

 $9.90/month

No contract

ST app access on 1 mobile device

Subscribe now

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 05, 2018, with the headline End of road for last Toyota Crown taxis . Subscribe

Available for
iPhones and iPads
Available in
Google Play

MCI (P) 066/10/2023. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. Copyright © 2024 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.

Back to the top