I must admit that I didn't expect this when Geely bought the remains of the
bankrupt London Taxi Company. Instead, I assumed production would be moved
to China, with perhaps just final assembly in the UK. Instead, R&D and
production will remain in the UK (though one imagines that many components
will come from China), with production of a new low emissions cab growing
hugely:

From
http://www.theguardian.com/business/...t-for-coventry

Up to a thousand new jobs are planned at a new black cab plant in Coventry
following a £250m investment by the London Taxi Company’s Chinese owner,
Geely.

It will be home to the company’s research, development and assembly
operations, including the development of electric and ultra-low emission
black cabs.

Construction work on the new plant is scheduled to begin in June this year,
with production expected to start in April 2017. LTC’s existing plant in
Coventry, which has been running for almost 70 years, will close and its
240-strong workforce will move to the new factory.

Investment in the new plant is part of an ambitious plan to capitalise on a
new market opening up for black cabs as a result of changing low-emission
regulations around the world.

At the moment, LTC makes about 2,000 black cabs a year, but the new
facility will have the capacity to assemble up to 36,000 cars.

The prime minister, David Cameron, said Geely’s investment was good news
for Coventry and the broader UK economy.

He said: “It means that more hardworking people will have the financial
security that a job and regular pay-packet bring and demonstrates that the
UK is open for business. The London black cab is iconic around the world
and I am pleased that the next generation will have a state of the art
production facility in the UK.�

A new version of the famous London black cab will be launched by LTC at the
end of 2017 and across international markets in 2018.

It is being designed to comply with new rules announced by the London
mayor, Boris Johnson, requiring a reduction in the level of emissions
allowed from new taxis from January 2018.

Johnson said: “The production of zero-emission capable vehicles,
incorporating the latest state of the art technology, is essential as we
strive to create the greenest taxi fleet in the world for London.

“The vehicles [the new] facility produces will help transform London’s taxi
fleet, boost jobs and growth in London and the West Midlands, and secure
the long-term future of the taxi industry, whilst ensuring everyone who
lives, works in or visits our city has the cleanest possible air to
breathe.�

Geely is trying to revive the fortunes of LTC after buying up its assets
and the name in 2013 following the collapse of Manganese Bronze, the former
owner which was quoted on the London stock exchange.

The Chinese car manufacturer already held a 20% stake in the firm since
2009, after forming a joint venture with Manganese Bronze in 2006 to supply
the UK business with car parts.

Li Shufu, founder and chairman of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, said: “This
investment will secure the future of London Taxi Company. Almost two years
after we acquired this company – in which we first took a stake in 2006 –
it has become an important part of our global automotive strategy.

“Today’s announcement symbolises the close business links between China and
the UK, which is an attractive market for Chinese inward investment. The
London Taxi expansion will demonstrate the benefits of Anglo-Chinese
partnerships.�

Geely is hoping its investment in black cabs will open up significant new
export opportunities. Currently about 90% of the black cabs made in
Coventry are for the UK market, predominantly London, with only a small
minority exported.

The ambition is that about 20% of taxis will be built for the UK, with the
remaining 80% shipped abroad to markets elsewhere in Europe and beyond.

The manufacture of a lefthand drive version of the black cab will begin at
the new plant about six months after production begins.