Pink is the New Yellow for Mexico City’s Taxis

Mexico City’s official taxi colors have undergone no less than four changes over the last fifteen years: from the iconic yellow beetle bugs to green and white “eco” cabs and, latterly, a distinctive burgundy and gold.  This autumn, the color scheme for official street cabs is changing again – to white and pink.

Precisely why the capital’s government has decided to change the official color scheme for taxis again is a moot point. The new color scheme chimes with a wider re-branding exercise of the capital’s public transportation systems which include the new ‘CDMX’ logo and do-away with the Angel of Independence silhouettes prevalent on the previous color scheme. This latest color change has prompted mixed responses from the public with some referring to the new cabs as “Taxis Barbie”.

In 2010, the city of Puebla, about an hour-and-a-half by road south east of the capital, introduced pink taxis driven by women and only for hire by women and their children. Mexico City’s new white and pink taxis are driven by men and women and can be hired by anyone.

There are approximately 140,000 licensed taxis in Mexico City and every one of them will have to make the change to the new style. All new taxi licenses being issued in the capital will require drivers to use the new colors on their vehicles, while existing cabbies have up to three years to update their current livery.

So next time you’re in Mexico City and needing a taxi, look out for the new style – which is actually quite hard to miss!

See Also: Traveling by Taxi in Mexico