Aussie London Taxi push confirmed

THE London Taxi Company has confirmed it will bring its iconic ‘black cabs’ to the Australian market, after a false start due to its parent company falling into administration last year.

London Taxi Company (LTC) export logistics manager Nigel Walters exclusively confirmed to GoAuto that the company’s new board has “met and have decided to pursue the Australian market”.

Mr Walters said that LTC was “in final discussions with our preferred distributor”, indicating that an announcement about the company’s Australian operation was imminent.

News of a local berth for the London cabs comes after confirmation of the takeover of parent company Manganese Bronze Holdings (MBH) by Chinese automotive giant Zhejiang Geely earlier this month.

Geely had been a shareholder in MBH since 2006 before paying £11.04 million ($A16.7m) to take over the business and save it from administration.

GoAuto reported in October that LTC was investigating the viability of an Australian operation before the plan was halted by MBH slipping into administration after failing to secure a cash injection from Geely.

The latest model TX4 taxis are built in both Britain and China, although it is not yet known where the Australia-bound vehicles will be sourced from.

Behind the retro design of the TX4 is a functional taxi that has high levels of accessibility for passengers.

Wheelchair access is available through the wide doors and the TX4 includes a wheelchair ramp and securing facility, large bright grab handles for the vision impaired, an induction loop for the hearing impaired and a swivel seat for mobility impaired passengers.

The TX4 is powered by either a 75kW 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel or a 112kW 2.4-litre petrol engine supplied by Mitsubishi.

Australia will be the latest market to get the TX4, with taxi services in the Middle East, Europe, South Africa and the USA already using the vehicles.