Photo: Fortum

This Taxi Service in Finland Only Accepts Payment by Karaoke

Finland Sustainability Music + Nightlife
by Eben Diskin Jul 5, 2018

If you felt bad for Uber drivers dealing with drunk college kids at 3:00 AM, imagine constantly driving cars full of people absolutely butchering your favorite songs. That’s what drivers at Fortum Singalong Shuttle, a new service in Finland, are signing up for. The Fortum shuttle is a ride service that only accepts singing as payment. Fortum, a clean-energy company that’s converting a series of BMW electric cars into emission-free taxis, is trying to promote a cleaner world with its karaoke-powered taxis.

The eco-friendly rides will be introduced at the Ruisrock festival in Turku from July 6 to July 8, where riders can use the cars without spending a dime. All they have to do is choose a song from a tablet and sing. If they stop singing, however, the ride stops too. Fortum’s brand manager Jussi Mälkiä said that with this new service, the company “want[s] to show people in a joyful way how comfortable and easy it is to drive an electric car… the silent electric cars make it possible to enjoy singing without background noise and emissions.”

During the festival weekend, the shuttle will operate between the Aurajoki riverbank and Ruisrock festival bus station from noon to 5:00 PM.

H/T: Lonely Planet

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