Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[London Black Taxi manufacturer sold to China's Geely]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/04/london-black-taxi-manufacturer-sold-to-chinas-geely/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/04/london-black-taxi-manufacturer-sold-to-chinas-geely/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/04/london-black-taxi-manufacturer-sold-to-chinas-geely/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

London black cabs

Geely, the Chinese company that also owns Volvo, now owns Manganese Bronze Holdings (MBH), makers of London's Black Cab. MBH went into administration late last year, and some had looked to Geely to rescue the company in which it had a 19.7-percent equity stake. Although it's taken three months to strike a deal, and more than half of the workforce was let go, Geely finally agreed to buy MBH for 11.4 million pounds ($17.9M US).

The purchase confers to Geely "the business and principal assets" of MBH, including the intellectual property and trademarks, equipment, properties, unsold stock, "goodwill" and complete ownership of the China-based joint venture in which Geely was producing the Englong SC7-RV. Happily for fans of the iconic product, the deal keeps production in Coventry and Geely has stated its desire to reestablish and grow the firm.

Reasserting authority in the UK taxi market and getting back in the good books of owners will take money and commitment. Manufacturers like Nissan and Mercedes-Benz have been poaching former owners of LTI products, and what current owners have seen as a lack of service and support has turned apathy into ire. Geely will need to put the time and money into new, competitive and reliable models to make a success of its latest purchase. If those new models can retain the Black Cab's aesthetic place in the London streetscape, all the better for it.

London Black Taxi manufacturer sold to China's Geely originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Feb 2013 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>administrationbankruptcyblack cabgeelylondonlondon taxiLondon Taxis Internationalltimanganesemanganese bronzemanganese bronze holdingsMon, 04 Feb 2013 08:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20446955/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/04/london-black-taxi-manufacturer-sold-to-chinas-geely/20446955/article-detail.xml 20446955 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/london-black-cabs_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/london-black-cabs.jpg <![CDATA[New low-emissions London Black Cab to be based on Mercedes-Benz Vito Traveliner]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/19/new-low-emissions-london-black-cab-to-be-based-on-mercedes-benz/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/19/new-low-emissions-london-black-cab-to-be-based-on-mercedes-benz/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/19/new-low-emissions-london-black-cab-to-be-based-on-mercedes-benz/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Londoners could be swapping out black cabs for black vans pretty soon. EcoCity vehicles, through its subsidiary KPM-UK, has worked with LTI, the maker of the famous black cab, for almost 20 years. Now EcoCity has signed an agreement with Mercedes-Benz to produce cabs out of Vito Traveliner vans, which produce lower emissions than the LTI offering.

With 93-percent of the London taxi market owned by black cabs, we wouldn't expect to see Traveliners dominating The City any time soon. For EcoCity, it was more about offering a more environmental choice for drivers and customers. Former mayor Ken Livingstone was a big proponent of that, if you'll remember. And for the city of London, it could mean less of the brown stuff in the air. The Traveliner taxi will be launched next week, and go on sale shortly after.

[Source: The Telegraph via Carscoop]

New low-emissions London Black Cab to be based on Mercedes-Benz Vito Traveliner originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black cabBlackCabecocitylondonltilti taxiltitaxitaxistravelinervitovito travelinerVitoTravelinerThu, 19 Jun 2008 06:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1227102/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/06/19/new-low-emissions-london-black-cab-to-be-based-on-mercedes-benz/1227102/article-detail.xml 1227102 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/06/vito_to_black_cab_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/06/vito_to_black_cab.jpg <![CDATA[London cab from LTI looks pretty in pink]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/13/london-cab-from-lti-goes-pink/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/13/london-cab-from-lti-goes-pink/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/13/london-cab-from-lti-goes-pink/#commentsFiled under: ,



In London, the black cab has instant recognition, cult appeal, a 25-foot turning circle, Euro IV emissions clearance, and drivers behind the wheel who don't earn their licenses until they've memorized the contents of a book simply called The Knowledge. Now, thanks to an unnamed buyer, the black cab also has a pink paint job.

LTI Vehicles produces London's trademark people mover, the current model being the TX4. LTI will make the cabs in any color, and this particular buyer decided to test that proposition, requesting a one-off version in candyfloss pink. The 4-man paint shop team mixed to order, and Mike McKenzie, one of the painters, called it "the most outlandish" cab they've done so far. The interior remains a muted black, so if you ever get a ride in it, only those on the outside will see how pretty you look in pink. The buyer paid a surcharge for the special color -- but the question is: would you?

[Source: LTI]

Continue reading London cab from LTI looks pretty in pink

London cab from LTI looks pretty in pink originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Apr 2007 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blackcablondonltipinktaxiFri, 13 Apr 2007 19:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/873889/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/04/13/london-cab-from-lti-goes-pink/873889/article-detail.xml 873889 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/04/130407ltia_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/04/130407ltia.jpg <![CDATA[Where to, gov'na? New TX4 London Cabs introduced in Europe]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/19/where-to-govna-new-tx4-london-cabs-introduced-in-europe/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/19/where-to-govna-new-tx4-london-cabs-introduced-in-europe/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/19/where-to-govna-new-tx4-london-cabs-introduced-in-europe/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Flagging down a taxi in many cities can be tricky. In most you're looking for a regular car with a little light on the roof. In New York you're spotting yellow-painted cars. But in London, the cabs aren't just painted different, they're entirely different cars, unmistakable and easily discernable from the rest of traffic. London taxis are iconic, and now their manufacturer, LTI Vehicles, has taken the wraps off the latest "Hackney Carriage": the TX4.

Interestingly, with all the major British car marques having been bought up by foreign manufacturers, LTI Vehicles is the largest British-owned passenger car manufacturer in the UK. Their new TX4 remains faithful to the original 1959 FX4 but upgrades with some significant modern touches. Power comes from a 2.5-liter DOHC common-rail turbodiesel sourced from VM Motori (an Italian engine manufacturer jointly-owned by Penske and DaimlerChrysler), fully compliant with Euro IV regulations and driving through either a Chrysler 5-speed auto box or an Eaton 5-speed manual. The TX4 also features anti-lock braking (a first for London cabs) and a more user-friendly interior with improved access, blending modern ergonomics with the classic design.

As mandated by the Public Carriage Office, the car has a 25-foot turning circle, which helps the driver pull a U-turn when a fare's whistling from the opposite side of the street. Prices on the road range from £27-35.5k.

Interior pics and full press release after the jump.

[Source: LTI Vehicles]

Continue reading Where to, gov'na? New TX4 London Cabs introduced in Europe

Where to, gov'na? New TX4 London Cabs introduced in Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Oct 2006 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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