Taxi Driver Online

Geely to buy bankrupt London Taxis



The Chinese press are reporting that Geely are to buy London Taxi maker Manganese Bronze, which went in to liquidation in October.

Back in October we reported that Manganese Bronze – makers of the iconic London Taxi – had gone in to administration, finally tipped over the edge by steering box failures in the TX4.

After years of under-investment – and a product that has been usurped by both the Mercedes Vito Taxi and the new Nissan NV200 Taxi – it looked like Manganese Bronze had no way back. Even 20 per cent owners Geely – who had been building the TX4 in China to ship to the UK to be bolted together in an effort to cut costs – weren’t willing to stump up any cash to keep the Black Cab alive.

But now the Chinese motoring press are reporting that Geely are planning to buy up the 80 per cent of Manganese Bronze they don’t own from the administrators Which, on the face of it, looks an odd decision taken the woeful – if iconic – state of the London Black Cab business.

But the reality is probably that Geely are less interested in keeping the Black Cab alive than using Manganese Bronze as a stepping stone in to the UK market.

Last year we reported that Geely were planning to enter the UK car market with their Emgrand range of cars, using Manganese Bronze to establish a dealer network and provide after-sales. Geely and MB were aiming for between 30 and 40 dealerships to handle sales of the Emgrand 7, and were pitching former Rover dealers with the plan.

That plan was obviously stymied by the problems at Manganese Bronze, so perhaps Geely think it simpler to buy up MB and continue with their plans to build a franchise network for Geely that way than start again from scratch?

Sadly, we can’t see this development making much difference to the future of the London Taxi.


Read more: http://www.carsuk.net/geely-to-buy-bank ... z2GdBaol8B

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Something for everyone...

http://www.geelyinternational.eu/

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Is anyone shocked by this development?

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Grandad,

Nope.

I'll bet they managed to fix the steering boxes too

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Wonder if they'll get any money to keep a shed open in coventry?

I bet they paid peanuts for the rest of the shares, without taking on the debts and probably get all the factory site, pressings, copyrights, etc, etc...

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

they need wheel arches for the UK market....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03DN6VFb-mI

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Not really considering that it was predicted on here over a year ago !

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

If Geeley can build then for £20k and sell them for £36k, can't see why they wouldn't, it's another thousand sales a year.

They really need to look at the power unit though.

They produce a Mitsubishi petrol unit for the export market, that could be popular given a chance considering petrol is 11p a litre cheaper than derv around here.

MPG's bad enough on a diesel. Any idea what the petrol version gets?

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

that size, that shape.....it needs a 2.5tdi or bigger

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

power unit????......that's gbc for you.....he's changed they still call them engines here. and the one they've got, like the last one.....is sh*te.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

No...They have Cheap Labour rates, Workers that Don't expect half the year as paid Holidays, No 6 month paid Maternity leave for them or their partner and their Hands ain't bound by a Industry hating Carbon Laws nor all of the beaurocracy that makes running a profitable Business over here nearly impossible..

The only thing that will stop the March of the Chinese is the fact that our Western markets will have become so poor through over regulation and uncompetitiveness of our industries that we'll not can afford to by anything from them.

I think that they would have to completely revamp the engine, gear box and metal composition of the vehicle and reduce the price by around 10k for it to appeal to anyone outside of London.

The problem that it faces in this country, is that most outside of London are not as dyed in the wool over its history and have to take more care as to how they spend their money, the reality is that it is just a London market!!. As I have said in the past, the design/iconic look of the vehicle is the dogs b*ll^*ks of which they have relied upon, unfortunately the practicality of the vehicle to most in terms of earnings is not feasible.

The pros - are the looks - end of. The history of it is very raw, and that will make not very marketable. The majority will outside of London buy the alternative, as they have not got the money in terms of comparible earnings to waste .

The cons -

1. fuel consumption is p!$$ poor.
2. 10k too much.
3. A seat or two less than other vehicles.
4. The present composition of the vehicle in general.
5. Lack of confidence in the vehicle and the company - if it goes t!ts up AGAIN - where does it leave you?

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

that cabbie on Eastenders never looked like he would fit in his......lol

not without his arm out the window

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most