A new Dundee taxi business has launched following the merger of two city firms.
CityCabs 450450, based at West Marketgait, has been formed following a merger of CityCabs and Tay Taxis.
Charlie Duthie, the former managing director of Tay Taxis, becomes operations director at the new business.
The business, which will have a fleet of more than 100 vehicles, will be headed up by fleet director Peter Marr Jnr, son of former Dundee FC owner Jimmy Marr.
A new app has been launched to give customers the best experience when booking a taxi, including text updates and ‘track my taxi’ facilities.
New taxi firm boss ‘excited’ by merger
All of the Tay Taxis staff have switched over to work for City Cabs.
Peter Marr said: “We are hugely excited to be launching CityCabs 450450.
“The experience we have in the team allows us provide a customer focused approach and offer the best possible taxi experience to our customers.
“Our growth strategy will drive the use of new and innovative methods to grow our fleet and customer base.
“Our aim is to be Dundee’s Premier Taxi Service – and recognised as putting customer service at the heart of everything we do.”
Meanwhile Mr Marr Snr, who runs the business alongside a number of ventures, was pleased to have Mr Duthie remain with the new company.
“He’s been in the business for 30 years.
“Peter will learn a lot from him. That was one of the reasons behind doing a merger.
‘Sensible’ move will help ease costs
He felt the move made sense to capitalise on the strengths of the two businesses.
“It’s two similar size companies, so amalgamating them together made sense.
“We wanted to keep people with vast experience. It was a natural step.”
“We hope to build on the success the two firms had over the years.
“It’s very difficult at the moment with a shortage of drivers and cars on the road.
“We thought this might help the situation.”
Rising fuel costs are a problem for taxi drivers, Mr Marr said, while adding the biggest issue the company has faced has been taxi drivers who have turned to other work.
“A lot of guys that had their badges retired, so that caused a shortage.
“Others left to work for the likes of Tesco, Uber and Amazon, and they’ve never come back.
“Hopefully the shortage will be alleviated through time.”
Mr Marr added that the merger will help keep utility costs down.
“We were both in our own premises, so just being in one office will help things going forward,” he said.
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