Taxi Driver Online

Production set to restart at taxi maker LTI



PRODUCTION of black cabs in Coventry could be restarted within the next few weeks, the new owners of London Taxi International have said.

Manganese Bronze’s former Chinese joint venture partner Geely has bought the LTI operation from administrators in a deal thought to be worth more than £11m.

The new company, Geely UK, has said it has ambitious plans for the business – which may evolve beyond just taxis as the company looks to use the LTI dealership network as a distribution outlet for its own Chinese-produced vehicles.

Around 100 staff have been retained at the LTI plant and they have spent the past few months retro-fitting new steering boxes to the unsold vehicles already produced by the time the company entered administration last September.

If production is stepped up then new models and investment may be pumped into the operation and new jobs created – possibly for some of the 140 staff made redundant when the business collapsed last year.

Meanwhile, Unite, Britain's biggest trade union, has welcomed Geely’s decision to purchase the LTI assets.

The union not only represents the LTI workers at Coventry but also more than 1,000 London cab drivers.

Peter Coulson, Unite regional officer, said: "Geely's decision to buy the London Taxi Company and to keep production in Coventry is a testament to the skills of the workforce that build the iconic black cab.

"Black cabs have been built in Coventry since 1948. Without the Coventry base the vehicle would have lost its unique character. Unite has been in constructive talks with Geely and we look forward to a strong working relationship in the future."

Unite assistant general secretary Tony Burke said: "This is great news for British manufacturing. There were genuine fears that the future of the black cab was under threat.

"It's encouraging that Geely has already begun talking constructively with Unite about the future.”

source: http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidl ... ion=54023#

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

Good but given its a pile of shyttte what mugs will buy it oh yes CABBIES

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

aint they fecking glad about that!

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

I'm pleased the vehicles and the lads are back on the production line.

And maybe with the financial clout of the new Chinese owners they might actually be a bit more competitive, and a bit more reliable.

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IDFIMH

so basically all they need to do is design a completely new vehicle with a decent engine

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

Would solve their problems overnight.

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IDFIMH

ermmmm don't all Chinese car manufacturers use Japanese engines ? Not heard of one designing and building their own I think it is far more likely they'll stick with what they've already got

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

With a realistic price tag - they screwed people for years, and ended up paying the penultimate price.

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

It's what you get with purpose built motors, I hope they go back to the Nissan engine that engine was bullet proof.

There cant cause of emissions,but if they could theyd sell especially in their biggest market london .