Taxi and Limousine Services NAICS 485310, 485320

Jan 19, 2026 - New York City Taxi Commission Undergoes Leadership Change

• New York City’s taxi industry remains under pressure from pandemic aftershocks, medallion debt and the rise of ride-hail platforms, and the city’s latest leadership change at the Taxi and Limousine Commission underscores issues facing the industry nationwide. Once a reliable path to middle-class stability in NYC, taxi ownership was destabilized by collapsing medallion values and heavy debt, also a problem in other US cities where drivers face volatile earnings and high financial risk. At the same time, app-based rideshare services now dominate urban transportation, shifting power away from drivers toward platforms and raising national debates over pay standards, job security, and regulatory fairness. NYC’s efforts to apply stronger oversight, labor protections and debt relief across the for-hire driver sector are being closely watched as a potential model (or warning) for other markets. NYC changes highlight a broader industry reckoning over whether traditional taxi systems can survive alongside ride-hail’s platform-driven economy.
• Nevada’s taxi and limousine industry is raising alarms over Elon Musk’s Paradise Transportation, which plans to operate Tesla vehicles as a low‑cost alternative in the Las Vegas tourism corridor. Industry representatives warn that the new service could undercut established taxi and limo operators, particularly in high‑traffic areas like the airport and resort zones, by offering fares below regulated rates. They argue that such pricing could make it impossible for traditional operators to remain profitable. Cab and limo companies also question whether Paradise Transportation falls under the Nevada Transportation Authority’s traditional taxi regulations or the rideshare framework, citing concerns about regulatory fairness. Industry stakeholders stress that without proper oversight to ensure a level playing field, the proliferation of low-cost, Tesla-based services could erode earnings, reduce service quality, and ultimately threaten the survival of the conventional taxi and limousine network that has long served Las Vegas visitors.

• The Federal Aviation Administration launched a pilot program in September 2025 to fast-track electric air taxis, or eVTOLs, in US cities as part of a broader effort to modernize urban transportation. At least five public-private partnerships with state and local governments and private firms will test mature designs in limited operations before full certification. The goal is to build a regulatory and operational framework that allows air taxis to move quickly from testing to real-world use. Potential applications go beyond passenger service, including rapid cargo delivery, emergency response, and medical transport. By supporting a wide-range of potential uses, the program aims to show how air taxis can ease congestion, improve urban mobility, and expand access to critical services, while helping US cities prepare for the next generation of aviation technology. Potential testing states include Texas, Ohio, New York, California, and Florida.
• Taxi and limousine service industry employment decreased 4.1% year over year in August 2025 while average wages for nonsupervisory employees ticked up a modest 5.9% to an average of $26.23 per hour, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The employment decline is a continuation of a 10-year trend in the industry, which has declined 15% in that time as rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft exploded in popularity. Many taxi drivers shifted over to those platforms and now work as independent contractors. The value of taxi medallions in major cities has also decreased, leading to an exodus of workers. Three-year employment growth clocks in at about 21%, but that number reflects a rebound from the pandemic as drivers reentered the workforce after lockdowns. Limos, however, have seen a demand boost due to increased business travel and airport pick ups.