Mexico City intends to drive VW Beetles out of town

MEXICO CITY -- In Cuba, the Volkswagen Beetle is called the "little egg." In France, it's known as the "ladybird." In Mexico City, the vehicle is called el vocho, converted into tens of thousands of green-and-white taxis that have filled the capital's congested streets for at least half a century. But if the city government has its way, the emblematic vochos will drive off into history."We want to get rid of them. ... This vehicle is now a nuisance in Mexico City," said Victor Manuel Ramirez, head of the taxi division at the city transport and road ministry. "The government wants to replace them with more modern, fuel-efficient vehicles."Mexico has the third-highest number of VW Beetles -- with 1.7 million sold there over four decades -- after Germany and Brazil. The transport ministry recently said the vocho is a major contributor to the city's air pollution, getting only 19 miles per gallon of gas compared with 34 mpg by many newer models.The ministry's recent decision to rid the city of all cars older than a decade by 2012 is a blow to the capital's 20 million inhabitants. They rely on some 100,000 taxis, 75,000 of which are older than 10 years and 80 percent of which are vochos, ministry records show.Other Mexican cities suffer from older, polluting vehicles, but the capital's leftist, green-friendly government has been trying to cut down on smog and high ozone levels with such plans as rooftop gardens and limits on the number of cars on the road.In the first stage of phasing out VW Beetles, the city is offering taxi drivers 15,000 pesos, or $1,500, to turn their vehicles into scrap metal -- a price some consider a significant loss compared with the car's average new price of $7,500. A 14-year-old vocho can still fetch about $2,500, taxi drivers say.Nevertheless, most taxi drivers appear to be on board with the program, though not all plan to turn their cars into scrap metal.Cabdriver Fabien Fava, 25, who has braved Mexico City's chaotic traffic for four years, says he is ready to take the money. "I like the taxi-exchange program because the vochos are very old and very high-maintenance. You have to comply with so many regulations relating to upkeep when you own these cars," he said, referring to rules that require constant smog checks."It was the government in the first place that imported these cars, so it's their mistake," said cabdriver Erasmo Hernandez, 61, a 30-year veteran. "But I agree with the program. The cars are outdated and, for a little more money, you can now get cars that are safer, bigger and more economic and comfortable. In general, 15,000 pesos is a fair price."Other drivers said they would keep their cars until the 2012 deadline or sell them first. The transport ministry has not decided whether it will target private drivers after the deadline. For now, only taxi drivers are affected.Besides spewing pollutants and being a problem to fix -- spare parts are difficult to find since production in Mexico ended in 2003 -- the vocho is considered a safety threat, police officials say.Since vocho taxis often lack a front passenger seat, they have become popular with kidnappers. Trapped behind the driver and with the assailant blocking the passenger door, victims can't escape. Mexico has surpassed both Colombia and Iraq in the number of kidnappings for ransom -- with 400 this year alone - so citizens are increasingly wary of taking vocho taxis, particularly at night."I do not really feel safe in those taxis," said Luis Gomez Chow, a 21-year-old student standing on a sunny corner waiting to hail a cab. He called the new ban "a good measure, especially because Mexico has a lot of pollution problems."It will take time for residents to adjust to more environmentally friendly cars. Vochos have become nearly synonymous with Mexico City, popping up on tourist souvenirs and post cards and inspiring Vochomania, a magazine that includes a feature on the Vocho del Mes, or "Beetle of the Month."The Volkswagen Beetle is arguably the most popular car in history. Since its debut in 1938, more than 21 million vehicles have been bought by people attracted by its durability, low price and easy repairs.Known as el vocho in Mexico, the first cars arrived in 1956. By 1964, Mexico began producing its own version and by 1973, one in three cars sold in Mexico were vochos.In the United States, production of the Beetle halted in 1977 after the car's design and air-cooled engine no longer met U.S. safety and emission standards. By 2003, Mexico became the only country still producing VW Beetles. On July 30, 2003, the last Beetle rolled off the assembly line at its plant in Puebla.(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)