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Based in Beijing, Yuan invested 1.55 million yuan (about Rs 1.8 crore) in the ultra-luxury car for his ride-hailing service, which he’s run since 2019.
Yuan earns more than 5,000 yuan (Rs 58,600) per trip and does about 40 rides a month. (Photo: South China Morning Post)
Indian commuters are used to seeing Maruti Suzuki or Hyundai cars as their go-to cab options.
These vehicles dominate the ride-hailing scene thanks to their fuel efficiency and low maintenance costs.
However, things look quite different in other countries like China or the United States.
Recently, a cab driver in China made headlines for his rather extravagant choice of wheels — a Mercedes-Maybach S480, valued at nearly Rs 2 crore.
According to the South China Morning Post, the driver, identified only by his surname Yuan, is based in Beijing and reportedly invested 1.55 million yuan (approximately Rs 1.80 crore) in the ultra-luxurious sedan for his taxi service.
He has been in the ride-hailing business since 2019 and claims to be earning more than Rs 58,000 in just one trip. He shares glimpses of his unique journey on his social media handle titled “Old Yuan Drives a Maybach for Ride-Hailing” and has over 120,000 followers online.
In a video posted earlier this month, Yuan shared a fascinating experience. He revealed that one day, he started working at 6:45 AM and secured a full-day trip, for which he charged 4,000 yuan (approximately Rs. 46,000).
“Let’s go! Driving a luxury Maybach ride-hailing car is not only my job but also my livelihood. Currently, the Maybach model can only be specifically ordered for ride-hailing in Beijing and Shanghai. It is uncertain when it will be available in other cities, so please watch rationally,” Yuan said in the clip, as quoted by the SCMP.
In an interview with Haibao News, the driver opened up about how he manages the expenses of maintaining a high-end car like the Mercedes-Maybach S480. He completes almost 40 rides every month and, for each trip, earns more than 5,000 yuan (about Rs. 58,600). Keeping aside all the costs, he manages to save 10,000 yuan ( Rs. 1.1 lakh), which is enough for his relaxed lifestyle.
“My monthly fuel costs are about 3,000 yuan (Rs. 35,000). I spend another 2,000 to 3,000 yuan (Rs. 23,000 to Rs. 35,000) on food, and rent is 4,500 yuan (Rs. 52,700). I still have some savings left. The best part is that I get to drive a Maybach at only 30,” Yuhan said, as per the SCMP report.
Yuan purchased the car on EMI, making a downpayment of 680,000 yuan (Rs. 79.7 lakh). Most of the money came from his savings of over six years. For the remaining amount, he needs to pay a monthly instalment of 14,466 yuan (Rs. 1.7 lakh) for five years.
