Thakandhoo man uses Tesla as a taxi in a first in Maldives

HA. Thakandhoo-born Ali Zameer has begun using a Tesla car as a taxi, marking the first time for a vehicle of the high-priced American brand to be used in the Maldives for taxi service.

Ali, who has been working as a taxi driver for over 25 years, takes bookings through the ‘Avas Ride’ app.

He began using his sleek Tesla Model 3 car with taxi plates on Thursday.

The Tesla is a compact electric vehicle that pairs smart design with a user-focused interior with wide visibility, easy navigation, and enough room to avoid cramming despite its small footprint.

Speaking to Sun on Thursday, Ali joked that despite the fancy car, he will continue to charge the government-set taxi fares for the vehicle.

He said that he takes bookings through ‘Avas Ride’, but is also open for pre-bookings at a negotiable rate for those interested in taking a more scenic route along the city in the Tesla.

American automaker Tesla, headed by Elon Musk, is known for its cutting-edge technology, especially in the realm of electric vehicles and advanced driver-assistance systems like Autopilot.

While several people own Tesla vehicles in the Maldives, the lack of public charging stations remains a hindrance.