Marrakech taxi driver Ibrahim honors the vintage Mercedes taxi as an icon of Morocco, now in decline

An icon of Morocco as the Grand Taxis of its major cities, the Mercedes-Benz 240D has served as the primary vehicle for the nation’s taxi drivers for decades – a relic of the ‘70s and ‘80s, now a familiar fixture with a foothold in the past. With many having clocked over a million kilometers, in Marrakech, the battered, sun-bleached yellow Mercedes have merged with its landscapes, yet government efforts to phase out the vintage model have left just six in operation across the city. Told through taxi driver Ibrahim in Marrakech, director Matthew Trainor captures a fading symbol of the North African nation, and the timeless charm of a presence now in decline for short documentary Merci Dix. Taking its name from the Moroccan-French phrase for “thanks times ten” – also a nod to the iconic emblem of the drivers who popularize the expression – the film honors the character and hospitality connected to these old diesel cars, marking the end of an era as their numbers diminish. ...read more at nowness.com _______________________________________ Subscribe to NOWNESS here: http://bit.ly/youtube-nowness Like NOWNESS on Facebook: http://bit.ly/facebook-nowness Follow NOWNESS on Twitter: http://bit.ly/twitter-nowness Daily exclusives for the culturally curious: http://bit.ly/nowness-com Behind the scenes on Instagram: http://bit.ly/instagram-nowness Staff Picks on Vimeo: http://bit.ly/vimeo-nowness