Bangkok, Thailand - Uber Thailand is taking on a new look! No longer are Uber drivers limited to driving their own vehicles - they can now own and drive a wingless Boeing 737 Max 8.
CEO Dara Khosrowshahi is "piloting" the program in Bangkok, Thailand, a city with often heavily-gridlocked traffic. "We were able to obtain Lion Airline's Max 8's for a song," said Khosrowshahi. "With some modifications we have been able to convert them to solar powered vehicles to power the hydraulic drives for taxiing around town".
These particular Max 8s have 166 seats in them and are required to use the bus lanes in the busy tropical city. Sompang Sarachai is a new driver of one of the interesting new....vehicles. "I don't know how to drive it yet," said Sompang. "It's so complicated, and then twice it tried to nose dive into the Chao Prahya river. Luckily, we were not airborne and the bridge barrier prevented it."
The new Uber vehicles have encountered other issues in the City of Angels. For starters, the vehicles require a special staircase at their stops. One passenger complained, "I cannot believe we have to wait for the stairs to extend to the door to get on and off. It's a bit crazy."
Independent bus companies and taxi owners also complained about loss of business. "Its the novelty of it," said Phichit Thomsai. "It's what we say in Thai, new shit smells good. But I don't think it will last; they are on the ground and still have the problem with wanting to nose dive."
