Taxi Driver Online

It's been in the pipeline since the Geely deal, looks like it will be moving a step closer with this snippet from the local Coventry News:


POLITICIANS are calling on Coventry’s black cab maker to come clean on
moves which could end decades of manufacturing in the city.

It follows Tuesday’s mass walkout by staff at LTI in Holyhead Road who
were furious to discover the factory’s main machinery had been put up for
sale on the internet.

As we revealed yesterday, unions representing 130 staff accused the
company of leaving them in the dark and “playing games”.

Options being discussed as part of an on-going consultation to reverse multi-million pound losses and a slump in orders include shedding half the workforce, and outsourcing manufacturing of the chassis and body,
possibly to China which already builds the famous black cabs for LTI’s
Asian market.


Unions fear complete closure, or Coventry becoming a much smaller plant
assembling imported parts.

LTI managing director Peter Shillcock said West Bromwich-based Fulltex
Press Sales had “jumped the gun” without the firm’s authority by
advertising LTI’s presses.

He said LTI had discussed with Fulltex the potential sale to test the
market if the consultation, already four months old, concludes
manufacturing will be lost.

Coventry North West Labour MP Geoffrey Robinson, a former Jaguar
chairman, said: ‘‘It’s time now to be open with the workforce, and cut
out the pretence. This isn’t the way to carry on.”

GBC what will happen in the smoke if they do move production to China
I thought the PCO had to now ditch the turning circle requirement due to the Liverpool case so that owners could buy other cabs

My brother and cousin were on a factory visit last week, I was invited but couldnt attend.....the new TX5 is expected shortly.

CC

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

A group from the railway union went up just the other day, apparantly they also asked about any future engines and were told they would be working on Euro 5 compliance, but with the same VM engine.

Click on the 'legalled off' link under this post for the full story.

I believe the Chinese / Geelly ones have a Mitsuibishi engine, that would spark some interest from GBC.

http://legaledoff.com/?p=3144#more-3144

If production moves to China, it will be no different to the Mercedes being built in Germany (or wherever they are made)

They will still sell them, hopefully at a more competitive price.

The turning circle remains, it seems the majority of drivers wish it to stay.

And me if it comes with a twin turbo

CC

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

For all these lucrative Virgin Train runs?!

Naa....beating boy racers at lights

CC

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

Apparently there is already 1 in the UK having tests run on it now before it is licenced in Leeds. £10,000 cheaper is the figure going round. I was told it has the same engine in though.

If it's £10,000 cheaper with a new low emmission it's deffo been built in China. I await the tests.

I suppose some of that £10,000 will be the money they don't have to give to the local dealers any more.

_________________
IDFIMH

Hmmmm........

beware false dawns there is a history of businesses moving production to china only to find out 2 or 3 years later that big cost increases at the chinese end have wiped out the savings

I would be very surprised if LTI don't take the opportunity to improve profit margins so I would be sceptical of drops in price of that magnitude