Geely pushes for electric black cabs

By John Reed and Patti Waldmeir in Shanghai
Published: October 19 2008 22:32

Geely, the Chinese carmaker that co-owns the company that produces black London taxis, has met UK government officials about bringing electric-powered cabs to the UK capital.
“One of our ideas is to convert London taxis [to electric cars],” Li Shufu, the company’s chairman, told the Financial Times in an interview. “We are doing research on this project.”

Geely owns about 23 per cent of Manganese Bronze, the UK-based producer of black London cabs, and 51 per cent of a Shanghai-based joint venture that will produce the cars in China starting in December.
Mr Li said he had discussed the idea of electric taxis with Boris Johnson, London’s mayor, at the Beijing Games in August.
Earlier this year, Manganese Bronze signed a research and development agreement with Tanfield Electric Vehicles to develop all-electric plug-in taxis.
The company has seen its share price slump in recent weeks after Transport for London ordered hundreds of the company’s TX4 cabs off the streets after a series of engine fires.
Geely, like China’s other carmakers, is developing its own plug-in hybrid and electric cars, including an electric version of its Panda city car that it may seek to sell in Europe. Geely’s plan to build London taxis in Shanghai is one of a string of investments by Chinese companies seeking to apply low-cost production to iconic overseas assets.
Rival carmaker SAIC recently relaunched production of MG TF sports cars in Birmingham, and the group makes Roewe-brand cars in China largely based on tools and designs formerly owned by bankrupt MG Rover.
LTI Shanghai Automobile, the joint venture, plans to sell the Shanghai-built cabs to taxi operators, hotels and other buyers in China and overseas, eventually building 10,000 vehicles a year.
“We think the taxi can present a kind of British culture, which is traditional and iconic and elegant,” said Yu Wei, general manager. “British people have a really serious culture, and Chinese people are hard-working. If we can combine [British] culture with [Chinese] diligence, together we can produce a very good product.”
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2008