London's Iconic Cabs Hit China

New York city has yellow cabs, London has black cabs and soon China will also have black cabs. In a joint venture with a Chinese company, Londons black cabs will soon be out on Chinese streets.
London's iconic black cabs may soon become a common sight on the streets of China.

So far, only 30 of the bulky taxis run the roads of the nation's capital,where the models in contrast with the London original sport a yellow flash along a white body.

But Chinese car maker Geely and its British partner Manganese Bronze hope to change that by putting 1,000 of the TX4 model Londoncabs in Chinese cities by the end of this year.




[Liu Jinliang, Geely Group]:
"The initial cost to purchase this vehicle would be higher than normal taxis. It would also cost more in terms of fuel usage and operational costs. But we will try our best to reduce the amount of time that the taxi would be empty."

Geely's version of the London taxis are made in a province outside Shanghai and are available in 12 colours.

Geely aims to boost sales to 5,000 units annually in three years and will target wealthy businessmen for the autos priced between 29,000 and 33,000 dollars, about a third of the UK-made model.

The company hopes to carve out a brand name for itself with this venture, while Geely is known in China for making budget cars.

Local Chinese passengers say they appreciate the extra space without the additional charge.

[Qi Zhegong, Tourist]:
"The legal seating allowance is higher, so it suits a party of lots of people going out together, especially young people, who always pile into one car."




Analysts see the partnership as win-win, as it provides Geely a chance to break into Europe and the U.S., while the company already exports to over 50 countries, mostly in the developing world.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• NTD
• London
• China
• New York
• Yellow cabs
• ecnomoy
• Geely

[BackInAGiffy]

piss off china get your own character New york managed it. 

[douro20]

@audadvnc

For a good reason. These things are completely hand built. They have what is probably the strongest chassis for its size in the world. And they are made to go 500,000 miles or more.

[chalkey1]

LTI or LTC whatever they call thereselves build rubbish cabs. They may well look good but trust me if you buy a TX4 you will be forever putting your hand in your pocket to repair the poxy thing. TX2's engines and timing belts rubbish, TX4's catching fire,engines blowing up after 100k miles, 3 gearboxes in 3 years, you couldnt make it up could you. I hope LTC go the same way as British leyland, ( DOWN THE SWANEY .) A pissed off london cabbie.

[BillDFC]

Piece of shit..over priced and unreliable.

[eightincher8]

its so ridiculous to allow something like that to ruin our culture.

[audadvnc]

So the UK model of this cab costs about $100K?! For a cab - how ridiculous. A Ford Crown Vic goes for about a third that, or less.

[bzee17]

Awite Guv'nor, want a flyer ?

[SeeYouNextFall]

I like those cabs better then the red VW "Santana" cabs all over China.

I also like that in China, the cabs have little curtains for privacy and keeping the sun out.