Geely steers London cabs in green turnaround

Three years ago, The London Taxi Co was bankrupt, and the British capital faced losing its familiar black cabs. But thanks to Chinese carmaker Geely, the re-energized company is about to introduce a radical change on the streets of London.

In the next few months, the company will introduce the TX5, which outwardly will look like its predecessor, but under the hood will be a hybrid that combines electric power with internal combustion.

Unlike the diesel TX4, the new model will be zero-rated for emissions.

"The model is designed to take on the challenges faced any major city such as air pollution and overcrowding," Chris Gubbey, CEO of The London Taxi Co, said in an exclusive interview on Aug 10.

Roomier than previous models but of equal width, the e-taxi can take up to six passengers and have a forward-facing wheelchair occupancy. The prototype was unveiled in October during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Britain.

"I really like that they kept the iconic design and can take on an extra passenger," says Adam Soller, a partner in London Photo Taxi Tour, which offers tourists customized tours in black cabs.

London taxis, or hackney carriages, are known as black cabs because for years they were all black, although the rules have changed in recent years and now they come in all colors.

Being a cab driver, Soller is looking forward to buying the electric model, although that's subject to the cost.

The London Taxi Co has not released details on the price of the new model.

The project started in 2013, right after Geely acquired the then-distressed company for 11.4 million pounds ($14.8 million; 13.2 million euros). The CEO said none of it could take place without the parent company's support.

"It's extremely lucky that Geely became involved," Gubbey says. The Chinese automaker, whose name translates as auspicious, is based in the eastern city of Hangzhou and has said it plans to invest 300 million pounds in a research and production facility for The London Taxi Co, marking the biggest green field investment by a Chinese company in Britain.

The site under construction, at Ansty, near Coventry, includes about 30,000 square meters of production space and 6,000 sq m of office area. It is the first new auto plant built in the country for more than 10 years.

Gubbey describes the taxi maker's relationship with Geely is more like one of partners. "Even if the company owns Volvo and The London Taxi Co, it feels like you are in a partnership, instead of having a controlling entity," he says.

As in any relationship, however, there are miscommunications. "What we are glad to see is that people recognize it, so we can have another go at the communication and find the solution," he says.

According to the taxi maker, low-volume production will start on the TX5 in mid-2017, with mass production ramped up from September that year.

Coinciding with the parent company's drive to go global and go green, Gubbey says The London Taxi Co is aiming for "aggressive" expansion outside Britain. "The zero-emission capability is so critical for not just in Europe, but also in Asia and across the world."

However, some London cab drivers are reluctant to share the classic icon.

"It's OK if they are sold to places such as China, Australia or Bangladesh," Soller says, "but from a selfish point of view I'd like it not to be sold in Europe, just for London to keep its uniqueness."

daitian@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily European Weekly 08/12/2016 page30)