London Black Cabs Getting PHEV Version from Geely

9 years, 6 months ago - 4 May 2015, Autoblog

The famous black cabs that move people around London are set to get a very green upgrade in a couple of years. The London Taxi Company, which is owned by Geely, is launching a new plug-in model called the TX5. Powered by an electric motor and a gasoline engine range extender, the vehicles are set to go on sale before January 1, 2018.

The future model is part of a major improvement campaign for the highly specialized automaker. Another part of that strategy is Geely's $381-million investment to build a whole new plant for the London Taxi Company. Among the products there, the factory will assemble the TX5, and, according to Automotive News Europe, it will also boost the company's output to 36,000 units annually, around ten times the current amount.

To jumpstart sales of the TX5, the London Taxi Company is offering a 1,000-pound ($1,500) discount for it to buyer's of the automaker's TX4 model since Geely's takeover in 2013 right up until the new vehicle's launch in 2017. According to Automotive News Europe, there are plans to eventually offer the hybrid taxi outside of the UK, as well.

London is pushing to lower vehicle emissions within the city, and the TX5 isn't the only range-extended taxi hoping to excel in the new market. The Frazer-Nash Metrocab is already running in the city with a similar plug-in powertrain.