Pay with a song – sing or motor stops in Finnish karaoke taxi

HELSINKI (Reuters) – Driver Topias Uusipere has been giving walks to music festivalgoers in the Finnish city of Turku since Friday – for a song.

A pilot taxi service in Turku during 6-8 July The Ruisrock festival allows riders to "pay" their trips by electric car while singing karaoke.

"The car does not move without singing," Uusipere said. Users can make a playlist before the start of the hike, which takes ten minutes in one direction, he said. If the song stops, the engine also stops.

About 100,000 people are expected at the Ruisrock Music Festival, which will feature artists such as The Chainsmokers, N.E.R.D, Dua Lipa and Tyler, The Creator.

Fortum, a Finnish electricity company sponsoring the singalong shuttle, says the goal is to draw attention to electric cars, which can help reduce responsible emissions of global warming.

said Fortum brand director Jussi Malkia: "Silent electric cars allow you to sing without background noise …"

He estimated that hundreds of people could use the shuttle during the three days of the event. Ilie, edited by Peter Graff)