Mexico City zaps the unloved Bug

Alexis Okeowo / San Francisco Chronicle

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.

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. "But I agree with the program. The cars are outdated and … you can now get cars that are safer, bigger and more economic and comfortable."