The legendary ‘Kaali Peeli’ cabs will finally gracefully quit Mumbai’s crowded streets, making way for newer models and app-based travel services.

Whether you lived in Mumbai or merely went through, the omnipresent ‘Kaali Peeli’ cabs were undoubtedly a part of your journey. For almost five decades, the ‘Premier Padmini’ cabs, popularly known as ‘Kaali Peeli,’ have been a notable presence in Mumbai.

According to a transportation department announcement, the final Premier Padmini in the traditional black and yellow livery was registered on October 29, 2003. With cabs in the city having a 20-year age restriction, Mumbai will formally wave farewell to Premier Padmini taxis on October 30, 2023.

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More than just a taxi, the ‘Kaali Peeli’ was a spectacle in and of itself, first appearing on Indian roads in 1964 and ending in 2000 when production was halted to make room for newer models and app-based ride services. These iconic taxis will now gracefully leave Mumbai’s busy streets, coinciding with the retirement of BEST’s venerable red double-decker diesel buses.

It first appeared in India in 1964 as the Fiat 1100D, manufactured by Premier Automobiles Ltd. The Ambassador had a near-monopoly in the market at the time, leaving Padmini as its only direct competitor. While it was first sold as the Fiat 1100D, the name ‘Premier Padmini’ was given to it in 1974. Interestingly, this renowned automobile was produced at Premier Auto’s Kurla facility in Mumbai, which is why this city has the highest concentration of Premier Padmini models.

It was powered by a four-cylinder petrol engine with 39.45 bhp and 71 Nm of torque, teamed with a four-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive. It was notable for having a column-mounted shifter rather than the standard gear lever. Its functionality and striking black-and-yellow color scheme made it an appealing choice for Mumbai taxis.

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