London Taxi Company to change its name after 69 years

[dutchman]

Coventry’s famed London Taxi Company is ditching the ‘taxi’ part of its name as part of a rebirth to mark the unveiling of its new electric cab



The Holyhead Road manufacturer unveiled its all-new hybrid electric London taxi - the TX - for the first time on the streets of London.

The company also announced a name change from the London Taxi Company (LTC) to the London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) - meaning ‘taxi’ will not form part of its name for the first time since it was founded in 1948.

It said the rebrand represented its vision to become the “urban commercial vehicle provider of choice across the world”.

Its new electric taxi will be followed in due course by an electric van.

The TX unveiling also coincided with news that the company has signed a deal with a company to import the new model to the Netherlands, with an initial order of 225 vehicles.

And the good news for taxi drivers is that LEVC says it will save them an average of £100 a week.

Production of the new TX taxi will take place at a new manufacturing facility in Ansty Park, which represents a £325 million investment by the company’s Chinese owners Geely.

LEVC CEO Chris Gubbey said: “Today is an incredibly exciting day for the company, for the world’s cities, for the air we breathe and for the drivers of commercial vehicles.

“The launch of LEVC marks Britain’s leadership as a first mover in creating the world’s only dedicated electric vehicle company for the urban commercial market.”

LEVC has received its first major international order from RMC in the Netherlands for an initial 225 vehicles to be delivered in 2018.

RMC, one of the Netherlands’ largest taxi operators, has been appointed as the importer and operator.

[dutchman]

Black cab firm announces 70 agency job losses in Coventry - a day after Prince Charles visit



BLACK cab manufacturers London Electric Vehicle Company have announced 70 agency job losses – a day after Prince Charles was taken on a tour of its factory.

A spokesman for the factory based in Ansty Park on Coventry’s outskirts said: “2019 will be a challenging year for UK automotive.

“To prepare the business we are reducing the number of agency staff and making productivity improvements.

“We still expect demand for our premium electric taxi to continue to grow over the coming years.”

[dutchman]

Coventry black cab firm announces further job losses



BLACK cab manufacturers London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) has announced that about 40 more jobs will go in the latest round of cuts.

A spokesperson for the Ansty Park-based company confirmed today (Friday February 15) that ‘less than’ 20 full-time staff will lose their jobs, along with a similar number of agency workers.

It comes less than a month after the company announced 70 agency job losses.

The firm produces the new electric London black cab the TX eCity.

The spokesperson said: “As part of our efforts to improve our operations and weather more challenging economic conditions we are reorganising some business functions which will lead to a reduction of less than 20 full-time positions and the release of a similar number of contractors.

“We have communicated the changes to unions and are in discussions from today with those employees likely to be affected."

[dutchman]

LEVC: Coventry taxi-maker announces 140 job cuts



About 140 jobs are set to go at the London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC), in Coventry.

The firm said, like other automotive firms, it had been severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and would be looking for voluntary redundancies.

The move forms part of a package of measures to improve cash flow.

LEVC developed London's first electric black cab, with more than 4,400 vehicles now on the capital's streets.

It said a disruption to supply chains during the pandemic and "significant global economic challenges" have led to a need to restructure the business.

The London Taxi Company, since renamed LEVC, faced administration in 2013 before China's Zhejing Geely Holding Group stepped in to rescue the firm.

It opened a £300m plant in Ansty in 2017, creating more than 1,000 jobs.

[dutchman]

It said a disruption to supply chains during the pandemic and "significant global economic challenges" have led to a need to restructure the business.

Ahem, they were laying off workers long before the pandemic as can be seen above!

[dutchman]

Black cab manufacturer set to axe jobs



Up to 45 workers at a black cab manufacturer are set to lose their jobs.

London Electric Vehicle Company said the move was part of plans to "drive efficiencies" across the business.

The Coventry-based firm said the job cuts would include a combination of temporary staff and those choosing voluntary redundancy.

It said vehicle production would continue at Ansty Park and there would be no impact on customers or sales and service.

The announcement comes after about 100 workers downed tools and went on strike over a pay dispute in June.

Members of the union Unite had rejected a 3.5% pay rise and £400 one-off payment for those on lower grades.

The plant which makes electric taxis opened in 2017 and has about 400 employees.

[rebbonk]

"drive efficiencies"