For the first time in 60 years production of black cabs will cease in the UK and move to China. Look behind the headlines though and you’ll see that taxis will still be assembled in the UK, which shows the benefits of sourcing parts and components from the Far East and completing production locally.
London’s Evening Standard writes:
“Manufacture of London’s black cabs is to cease in this country for the first time since it began more than 60 years ago, with production shifting to China.
Bodies and chassis for the latest TX4 model will merely be assembled at manufacturer Manganese Bronze’s London Taxis International plant, in the latest blow for Britain’s car industry.
Manganese is also considering a deal to give its Chinese partner a majority stake in the company. It said it had no choice but to cease manufacturing after “the only viable UK supplier” of the primer coating (effectively the first undercoat sprayed on to the vehicle) said it would stop production from August.”
