Transport Fare Stabilization Measures Extended by 3 Months, Taxi Subsidy Increased by NT$9,000

(Central News Agency, Taipei, June 8) In response to soaring oil prices due to the Middle East conflict, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), in line with Executive Yuan policy, has implemented public transport fare stabilization measures. Originally planned for three months, the measures will be extended by another three months, with taxi subsidies increased by NT$9,000 to a maximum of NT$15,000 per vehicle.

The MOTC announced in a press release today that the fare stabilization measures for highway passenger transport, domestic shipping, and domestic aviation will be extended by three months, for a total of six months.

For highway passenger transport, the MOTC stated that it will follow the temporary adjustment mechanism for highway bus route fares. If operators apply for fare adjustments according to the law, the government will subsidize the difference after approval, preventing costs from being directly passed on to passengers. This measure has been extended from three to six months.

For domestic shipping, the MOTC will provide fuel price discount subsidies for fixed-route passenger ships. Long-distance routes will be estimated based on contract adjustment mechanisms, while short-distance routes will be subsidized based on the difference between the announced oil price and the benchmark value, up to NT$5 per liter. This measure has also been extended from three to six months.

For domestic aviation, CPC Corporation will absorb the increase in aviation fuel costs to keep the average price of aviation fuel for domestic routes below NT$27.25 per liter for six months, preventing the trigger for domestic airfare adjustments. The MOTC will allocate budget according to the Executive Yuan's overall plan to cover the fuel price difference.

For taxis, the MOTC stated that the original subsidy of NT$6,000 per vehicle will be increased by NT$9,000, for a maximum subsidy of NT$15,000 per vehicle. The subsidy method remains a discount of NT$5 per liter, effective from May 20, 2026, with an application deadline of August 31, 2026, and the subsidy quota usable until the end of 2026.

The MOTC indicated that taxis registered in the previous phase will automatically receive an additional NT$9,000 in subsidy quota, expected to be credited by June 16. Unregistered vehicles can obtain a maximum subsidy of NT$15,000 at once after completing registration.

According to statistics, as of June 5, 72,725 taxis have completed registration, representing over 80% of the total.

The MOTC emphasized that, following the Executive Yuan's instructions, it will continue to monitor oil prices, the operational status of the transportation industry, and public transportation demand, and will conduct rolling reviews of the subsidy period and implementation methods. (Editor: Guan Zhongwei) 1150608