The Geely-owned London EV Company (LEVC) has confirmed that the next generation ‘London black cab’ will launch into the UK market in the second half of 2027. The company says it will be fully engineered from the ground up to meet the Metropolitan Conditions of Fitness, set out by Transport for London.
The new model will take over from the TX range-extended electric taxi which launched in 2018.
With development of its new model now well underway, LEVC has revealed a series of early design sketches, showing a clear evolution of the instantly recognisable silhouette while ‘advancing the vehicle’s design, technology and usability for the next era of urban mobility’.
As manufacturer of the world’s only purpose-built, fully accessible electric taxi and ‘custodian of one of Britain’s most recognisable automotive icons’, LEVC says it is developing their latest model with the needs of drivers, passengers, fleet operators and cities firmly at its core.
Since 2013, Geely Group has invested more than £1 billion in the ongoing development of LEVC and remains ‘firmly committed to the future of the UK taxi industry’.
While full technical details and specifications remain under wraps, the next-generation taxi will leverage LEVC’s expertise in purpose-built taxi design, accessibility and durability, to ‘deliver a vehicle that represents an advanced, purpose-built urban mobility solution’.
Tony Chi, Chief Executive Officer at LEVC, said: “For more than a century, LEVC has been at the heart of urban mobility, and the black cab remains one of the most trusted and recognisable transport solutions in the world. Today’s announcement marks an important milestone as we confirm that the next chapter is already well underway.
“Our next-generation taxi will honour everything drivers and passengers value about the current TX, while taking a significant step forward in design, innovation and sustainability. We know how important the future of the black cab is to our partners and we want to reassure them that LEVC is fully committed to the future of this sector.”
Brett Boydell, Global Design Director at LEVC, said: “Designing the next generation of iconic black cab is both an incredible responsibility and a unique opportunity. These first sketches capture the essence of what’s to come — familiar, purposeful and unmistakably LEVC — but with a fresh, modern character that reflects the future of mobility. There is much more to reveal, but this is the beginning of that journey.”
As part of the planned model transition, final assembly of the TX model concludes this month, which enables the brand and LEVC’s Ansty production facility to fully prepare for the introduction of its new purpose-built taxi.
LEVC also stressed it remains fully committed to its customers, drivers and industry partners. Its established aftermarket and aftersales operations will continue to provide comprehensive and ongoing service, parts and technical support for the current TX.
