THE EGYPTIAN MARKET.
Page 10
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
According to a. recent communication from Cairo, some impetus is likely to be
• given to the motor trade in Egypt by-the introduction of taxicabs and other cars on the streets of Alexandria and. Cairo. About 20 Ford cars were placed on the Cairo streets recently, with a minimum • tariff of 10d. to any point within the city radius. This undercut the ordinary horse-drawn vehicle, arid, being a speedier means of locomotion, quickly became popular, and more eats are appearing daily, plying for hire in a similar manner. The minimum tariff in the case of larger oars is la.
.Although it is yet too early to predict the success of the new venture, there is every indication that it will become the popular means of locomotion and that the horse-drawn erabiele so long a feature of the Egyptian streets, will disappear.
B2B The police authorities are encouraging the new venture, as it will do much to ease the traffic problem in Cairo and get rid of a long-suffered nuisance in the ehape of the arabieli. It is expected that about 100 of these new vehicles will be on the streets before the end of December, and this will do much to reduce the surplus stocks of cheaper cars in the market and should result in a steady demand for smaller cars in the future.
The vehicles are mostly being driven by natives, principally Berberiees, who are not accustomed to handle cars with much care and the accessories market
should be care, very busy. Undue wear and tear on the cars might, however, considerably affect the success of the scheme, but, properly driven, the cars should ply for a long time, as the roads in Cairo and Alexandria are very easy going.
Some American cars of larger make are being offered at 40 per cent, reduction on original cost, without, however, finding buyers.
It is understood that orders continue to be placed in Italy and France, owing to the rates of exchange, which remain very favourable to purchasers-; likewise in Germany, from where quite good cars of small make are being purchased for the equivalent of £100 at the recent value of the mark.
The Omnibus. Co. of Cairo intends gradually to replace its horse-drawn vehicles with the motorbus, one or two of which are already under trial. It is also understood that a number of motorbuses are on route from England to Egypt. They are of a design which has been superseded in England. Generally speaking, therefore, one may look for a decided increase in motor activity in Egypt.