Porsche, Ferrari cabs turn out to be Bank Mandiri’s promotional tool

(Kompas/Lasti Kurnia)

Jakartans have found out that a new taxi service, comprising luxury cars, was only a promotional gimmick by state-run Bank Mandiri.

Last week, people could take free rides in Ferrari and Porsche "taxis" from a number of pick-up points at certain malls and shopping centers in Jakarta.

“The MMCab taxi is just part of our teaser promotion until Wednesday, so it is not a taxi company,” Mandiri’s marketing communications vice president, Endang Astaranti, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

The taxis were aimed at promoting new electronic banking services, for iPhones, BlackBerry and Android-based phones, she said, which the Bank likened in quality to Ferrari and Porsche automobiles.

Separately, Jakarta Traffic Police chief, Sr. Comr. Dwi Sigit Nurmantyas, said the police had not issued the number plates for the cabs, a Ferrari Modena 360 and Porsche Boxster S, with numbers B 888 MMC and B 999 MMC, respectively.

“Jakarta Police never granted permission for the Ferrari [and Porche] taxis. So, if they use yellow number plates, the numbers should have four digits, not three. It means they made them up,” he said on Thursday, as quoted by kompas.com.

Endang confirmed that Bank Mandiri had obtained permission to use the cars as promotional tools only, not as fare-charging taxis.

“We obtained permission to conduct the event.”

According to Law No. 22/2009 on Traffic and Vehicles, every on-road vehicle needs to be equipped with a number plate, issued by the police. Offenders could face a maximum of two years in prison or a Rp 500,000 fine. (yps)