A 30-year-old man from Beijing has gone viral for using a luxury Mercedes-Maybach S480 as his ride-hailing vehicle, earning up to ₹58,000 in a single trip. Known online as “Old Yuan Drives a Maybach for Ride-Hailing,” Yuan has garnered nearly 120,000 followers documenting his unique career.
The Maybach Purchase and Loan Details
Yuan, originally from Henan province, purchased the Maybach for 1.55 million yuan (approximately ₹1.80 crore) in November 2024. He made a down payment of 680,000 yuan (₹79.7 lakh), with 500,000 yuan (₹58.6 lakh) of it funded by his personal savings accumulated over six years. The remaining amount was covered through a five-year loan with monthly EMIs of 14,466 yuan (₹1.7 lakh).
Earnings and Expenses
Yuan’s daily earnings from his luxury ride-hailing business can reach 4,000 yuan (₹46,000), as shown in a video where he documents his full-day ride. Despite the high costs of maintaining a luxury vehicle, he claims to save approximately 10,000 yuan (₹1.1 lakh) every month. His monthly expenses include 3,000 yuan (₹35,000) for fuel, 2,000 to 3,000 yuan (₹23,000 to ₹35,000) for food, and 4,500 yuan (₹52,700) for rent.
A Select Clientele and Relaxed Lifestyle
Focusing on quality rather than quantity, Yuan handles around 40 high-end, pre-booked rides monthly, some of which earn him more than 5,000 yuan (₹58,600) per trip. He emphasizes that driving the Maybach is both his livelihood and his passion, enabling him to live a comfortable and relaxed lifestyle while still saving money.
Online Reactions
Yuan’s business model has sparked online discussions, with some questioning whether he is truly rich or why someone with a luxury car like a Maybach would continue working as a ride-hailing driver. Others have pointed out the high fare costs of luxury cars like the Maybach, with one user noting the difficulty of ever being able to ride in one.
Future Plans
Yuan notes that the Maybach model is currently only available for ride-hailing in Beijing and Shanghai, and its availability in other cities remains uncertain. However, Yuan’s story has captured the imagination of many, raising questions about the possibilities of luxury ride-hailing in China’s competitive market.
