Geely's black cab plans

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Geely's black cab plans

Tuesday, June 23, 2009



Geely has sold 200 London black cabs in China since it went on sale last week, and it plans to sell 1000 by the end of the year.

The Chinese manufacturer sells the car in partnership with British firm Manganese Bronze Holdings PLC, who have built 100,000 cabs at its Coventry plant since 1948.

Geely, who have been linked to buying Volvo, are mainly marketing the TX4 black cab at wealthy businessmen buying gifts for loved ones.

Update: Geely "to buy Volvo"

Jinliang Lau, general manager of Geely group's sales arm, told Reuters: “Driving a classic black cab can attract a lot of eyeballs. There aren't many out there in the streets.”

Hotels are also purchasing the cabs and Geely plans to sell more to local governments, as well as to taxi operators.

“We have 30 black cabs in service in Beijing since the Olympics and they are quite popular among local residents,” said Lau.

Shanghai Motor Show report

Geely paid Manganese £53 million for a 52 per cent share of the rights to sell the TX4 in China. The deal also saw Geely take a 23 per cent stake in the British company.

Lau says Geely eventually plan to sell between 3000 and 5000 TX4s a year, and it costs the equivalent of £17,500, about a third of the cost of a black cab in the UK.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/240931/