If you’re from or have visited Hong Kong, you’ll know just how iconic its taxis are. Much like the yellow cabs of NYC or the barn-door black cabs of London, HK’s sea of red transporters is a major part of the city’s identity. In fact, the three-colored regional differentiation system—red for Hong Kong Island, green for the New Territories, and blue for Lantau Island—has been the primary identifier for getting around HK for decades.

Well… that’s all about to shift significantly. As of March 2025, over 3,500 snazzy new taxis from five operators are rolling out, promising to shake up the city’s cab game. These aren’t your average cabs; they’re souped up with tech and style to match Hong Kong’s fast-paced hustle. We’re talking electric vehicles (over half the fleet!), wheelchair-accessible options, and luxury rides with massage chairs. Plus, they’ve got all the modern goodies: multiple e-payment methods, dashcams, GPS, and even driver-monitoring systems to keep things smooth and safe.

It’s not just about gadgets and looks; these taxis are here to hustle smarter. Online booking, ride-hailing platforms, and driver training systems are leveling up the experience, while electric models push that green transport agenda. With each fleet packing 300 to 1,000 cars, they’ll cover about a fifth of Hong Kong’s 18,000 cabs.

While many will view the change as an unfortunate potential start to the end of an era, it’s also easy to see this as an upgrade. I’m sure we all have our own experiences sitting in the back seat of a grumpy cab driver as he mumbles a constant barrage of swear words under his breath, or the heightened frustration of watching cab after cab completely ignore your late-night attempts at flagging one down. Positive or negative, the classic red, blue, and green taxis remain iconic to Hong Kong, and the fact that they may be coming to an end is something worth reminiscing about.

Speaking of reminiscing, another Hong Kong legacy that has its own “end of era” moment is the city’s Mahjong scene. If you haven’t read our coverage of HK’s last female Mahjong carver, check it out here.

Cover image via William Furniss.