22.2.2006
"Taxi!" – Opel taxis since 1906

100 years ago, Opel delivered the first taxicab to the German capital of Berlin. The Opel Motorcar 12/14 hp "System Darraq" with an open driver's seat and a closed passenger cabin was Opel's trump card in this booming segment. Today, Opel sells taxi versions of the Meriva, Combo, Vectra, Signum, Zafira and Vivaro.

In 1900, horse carriages, called hansom cabs, dominated the streets of the European capitals of Paris, London and Berlin. The first taxicab automobile competed with 8,114 hansom cabs in the city of Berlin. When Opel entered the market in 1906, there were already 233 taxicabs.

An Opel Motorcar "System Darraq" cost 9,550 marks. It was positioned in the medium-price segment of the market. A taxicab was quite an investment considering that for example an average worker earned just 60 marks per month. With its 14 hp the modern Opel Motorcar reached then a breathtaking top speed of 55 km/h.

In 1926, taxicabs dominated the streets of Berlin and the era of hansom cabs came to an end. Ever since, Opel has had a strong presence in this segment of the business. In the 1960s, the time of the German "Wirtschaftswunder", the Opel Rekord was very popular. In the 1970s, taxi versions of the Ascona and the luxurious Admiral with air conditioning were added to the range. Between 1985 and 1989, Opel doubled its taxi sales and became the number three taxi manufacturer in Germany. Today, Opel Special Vehicles (OSV) offers a range of products for various purposes. Special equipment for transportation of disabled people and environmentally friendly gas-powered Zafiras are also available beside the standard taxis.