Mexico City Launches 2025 Taxi Replacement Program

The Mexico City Ministry of Mobility (SEMOVI) has launched the Taxi Replacement Program 2025, an initiative aimed at modernizing the city’s taxi fleet. According to SEMOVI, 73,693 vehicles — or 62.2% of the total 105,124 units — have exceeded their legal service life of 10 years.

SEMOVI’s official diagnosis, published in the city’s Official Gazette, indicates that 97% of the capital’s taxi fleet is over five years old. The ministry also projects that in the next two years, another 22,394 vehicles will reach the 10-year limit, further increasing the number of units classified as obsolete under the Mobility Law.

The program aims to address these conditions by offering direct subsidies and financial mechanisms to taxi owners willing to replace their vehicles. “More than half a million people use taxis in Mexico City every day. This measure is designed to improve safety, ensure universal accessibility, and reduce polluting emissions,” SEMOVI stated.

Under the new scheme, financial support is divided into three categories:

• MX$200,000 (US$11,700) for up to 61 concessionaires replacing vehicles with electric taxis.
   

• MX$150,000 (US$8,800) for hybrid vehicles.
   

• MX$120,000 (US$7,000) for highly efficient gasoline models.

Owners can also receive an additional MX$20,000 (US$1,170) for installing universal accessibility features, such as swivel seats. Beneficiaries will have access to automotive loans at preferential rates through agencies backed by Nacional Financiera (NAFIN).

Despite the size of the fleet, progress in renewal has been limited. In 2023, only 20 taxis were replaced with electric units, and as of 2024–2025, just 1,293 vehicles — or 1.09% of the fleet — are new models. SEMOVI’s data underscores the challenge: most vehicles remain outdated, inefficient, and noncompliant with regulations.