New London taxi to be built in UK by Chinese company

A new London taxi's been revealed, and it's going to be built in Coventry thanks to investment from China.

An iconic London black cab. [Photo: auto.china.com.cn]

The London Taxi Company, or LTC for short, is the manufacturer of the iconic London black cab. The company has undergone many changes of ownership over the years, but has found stability as part of Geely Auto, based in Hangzhou.

Now, the company has unveiled their latest model, the TX5, alongside a new manufacturing facility in the British Midlands.

Following a £300 million investment, the site will be the UK's first new car manufacturing plant for decades, as well as the UK’s first car plant dedicated solely to the production of range-extended electric vehicles.

According to the company, the investment and expansion in the new site and the next-generation London taxi has helped create more than 1,000 new jobs, including 200 engineers and 30 apprenticeships. 

Speaking at yesterday's opening of the facility, Carl-Peter Forster, Chairman of the London Taxi Company, said:

“The opening of our new plant sets a number of records; it’s the first brand new automotive manufacturing facility in Britain for over a decade; the first dedicated electric vehicle factory in the UK; and the first major Chinese investment in UK automotive. We are extremely proud of what we have achieved today, and we have firmly put our stake in the ground as a new, global, automotive leader in urban commercial vehicles.”

The Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy attended the opening ceremony and welcome the investment, stating:

“Our iconic black cabs are famous across the world. The London Taxi Company’s impressive new factory and R&D facility showcases the innovation that makes the UK a world leader in the development of new automotive technologies. Through our ambitious Industrial Strategy, we are committed to building on our strengths and taking advantage of the opportunities the new low carbon economy provides.”