Victorian general manager David Samuel said the organisation had about 15 cabs in Bendigo, three days before its self-imposed deadline.

Only one of the taxis was wheelchair accessible.

Mr Samuel said plans for an additional wheelchair-accessible cab were pending approval.

A second wheelchair-accessible taxi was arranged to service Bendigo on Christmas Day to help meet demand, but only for the day.

13CABS entered the city’s taxi market in October with plans for a fleet of 50 cabs by Christmas – effectively doubling the number of taxis servicing the Bendigo community.

“We’re confident we’re still going to achieve that goal,” Mr Samuel said. 

Just not by Christmas.

“It’s an ambitious target. We’ll keep working towards that target,” Mr Samuel said.

“We’re still really happy with the reception we’ve had.”

He said feedback had been positive, particularly in relation to the 13CABS app.

The organisation’s efforts to boost its workforce in Bendigo consisted of “a lot of advertising” and “a lot of boots on the ground”, Mr Samuel said.

He said the 13CABS recruitment campaign was aimed at industry colleagues and the general public.

The organisation boasted of ‘familiar faces in 13CABS colours’ when it launched in Bendigo, ‘with a number of existing cabbies switching to the 13CABS network’.

Ride-sharing services Uber and Shebah were also due to enter the Bendigo market that month.

Uber was unable to specify how many of its drivers were registered in the Bendigo area.

But a spokesperson said there was “a strong level of interest from both the local community and visitors to Bendigo.”

“We see hundreds of riders use the Uber app every week and many local drivers use it as an opportunity to make extra money as and when it suits them,” the Uber spokesperson said.

Mr Samuel has been contacted for further comment.