LTI hits back in best-selling taxi row
http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/birmingham-business-news/automotive-business/2009/10/05/lti-hits-back-in-best-selling-taxi-row-65233-24852017/
LTI Vehicles, the Coventry-based manufacturer of the classic London Taxi, has hit back hard at claims that the Mercedes Vito conversion was outselling the purpose-built TX4.
“We have seen the press statements and they are very misleading,” said Rob Laidler, LTI sales director.
“The claim that the Mercedes Vito Conversion sells four times as many as the TX4 is true for KPM, our independent dealer who has been struggling to sell the purpose-built taxi.
“We always knew that when KPM introduced the Vito conversion, they would find it difficult to sell both vehicles side by side and the market has shown this to be true.
“It’s a reflection of their ability to sell more than one product rather than the popularity of one vehicle over another.”
LTI quoted Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders figures showing that so far this year,
226 Mercedes Vitos have been registered in the UK including demonstrators and loan vehicles compared with
1,084 LTI vehicles.
LTI claims that the Vito has about 17 per cent of the national taxi market and about 25 per cent of the London market.
“This is the level we predicted as the Mercedes fills the gap in the market previously occupied by the Metrocab,” said Mr Laidler. “It is competition for us but we confidently predict that the current generation of London Taxi, the TX4 is still the best and will remain at number one.”
LTI sells the TX4 through its Mann & Overton London dealership in Brewery Road as well as at KPM.
Mann & Overton says it a mixture of special deals on the TX4 combined with the Government’s car scrappage scheme has boosted sales.
“Another urban myth that keeps getting thrown into the public arena is the fuel consumption of the Mercedes,” said Mr Laidler.
“For instance the majority of driving in London is in town and this is classed as the urban drive cycle. According to the government figures the TX4 is more economical than the Mercedes. The TX4 uses 11.1 litres per 100 kilometres and the Vito uses 0.3 of a litre more at 11.4 litres per kilometre. Many drivers report that the variation in their cost of fuel is exaggerated by rapidly changing fuel prices which gets confused with the true fuel economy figures.
“We think drivers know which is the best vehicle for the job and that’s the only vehicle recognised the whole world over as a taxi, the TX4.
“You don’t get many tourists coming to London to ride in a Mercedes Vito now do you?”
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