London taxi drivers face black cab shortage as Geely-owned LEVC slashes production

Commodity
โดย The Telegraph·GB·Read original
Summary · why it matters

London taxi drivers are facing a black cab shortage after the London Electric Vehicle Company, the sole manufacturer of the iconic vehicles, radically scaled back production. Drivers and fleet operators report nine-month waiting times, with Colts Cabs, London's largest fleet operator with more than 1,000 cabs, offered just 10 cars when it attempted to order 30 in March. LEVC, owned by Chinese giant Geely, produced 1,308 cars in 2024 but has since cut output, citing falling demand as the number of licensed taxi drivers in London plunged from about 20,400 in 2020 to 15,900. The company's build-to-order policy and rising costs—the base price of its electric TX cab has risen from under £55,000 in 2018 to more than £74,000—are blamed for a shortfall just as Transport for London rules force retirement of diesel cabs after 12 years, with some 1,300 cars set to be taken off the streets in the next 11 months. LEVC says it is adjusting output for market demand and gearing up for a new model, while the secondhand market remains an alternative for individual drivers.

Impact on stocks 3

Electrification & Mobility · 3 stocks

Theme Impact 1

Off-coverage companies 2

London Electric Vehicle CompanyPrivate▼ Negative
Demandrelevance

LEVC slashes production citing falling demand, causing shortage

Colts CabsPrivate▼ Negative
Supplyrelevance

Colts Cabs faces shortage, offered only 10 of 30 ordered cabs

Related news

2

US auto industry groups urge Trump to block Chinese-made vehicles

Several US auto industry groups have sent a letter to President Trump urging him to block Chinese-made automobiles from entering the US market, ahead of a planned US-China summit next week. Among the groups that signed the letter are the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which includes passenger car manufacturers from Japan, the US and Europe, and the National Automobile Dealers Association. Chinese-made passenger cars are effectively shut out of the US market by high tariffs and other measures, and the letter, dated the 17th, calls for the current policy to be maintained. It argues that easing entry restrictions would "undermine fair competition."
Jiji Press·6hRead more →

Tesla Brings European Semi to Hanover, Targeting 550-Kilometer Range

Tesla is preparing to enter the European electric truck market, bringing its European Semi to the IAA Transportation trade fair in Hanover, Germany, after publishing key European specifications ahead of the event. The European version of the Semi offers a range of up to 550 kilometers and energy consumption of about 1 kilowatt-hour per kilometer, with deliveries poised to begin next year. According to Transport & Environment, new entrants collectively could capture 24% to 31% of Europe's electric heavy-truck market by 2030, though that estimate assumes manufacturers meet their stated production and sales ambitions. Tesla faces aggressive competition from established manufacturers that already offer EV trucks and hold extensive fleet-operator relationships, and its 550-kilometer range sits below some competing models that can travel roughly 700 kilometers on a single charge. The company would also need heavy capital spending on high-power charging infrastructure along freight corridors and must scale production alongside Semi deliveries to achieve mass adoption. Hedge fund holdings in Tesla declined to 116 in the second quarter from 123 in the first quarter, with BAMCO Inc. raising its stake by 5% to approximately $5.27 billion and DE Shaw cutting its position by 1% to about $1.83 billion.
Insider Monkey·8hRead more →
3impact 5

Volkswagen Cuts 2026 Profit Outlook on China Slump and Porsche Writedown

Volkswagen has dramatically cut its 2026 profit outlook, now expecting an operating margin of no more than 1% this year, down from its previous forecast of at least 4%. The German carmaker expects around €10 billion, or $11.5 billion, in charges this year, including restructuring costs tied to workforce reductions and writedowns on Chinese assets; that total includes a €6-billion writedown related to Porsche, reflecting revised long-term expectations for the sports-car maker. Excluding the exceptional charges, Volkswagen said its operating margin would be around 4%. Volkswagen shares fell more than 7% following the announcement, dragging other automakers lower. Chief Financial Officer Arno Antlitz said the Chinese market has contracted by around 20%, with no stabilization currently in sight, while Chinese automakers take domestic share and expand into Europe with competitively priced electric vehicles. Volkswagen also said growing EV sales are weighing on profitability at its Volkswagen passenger-car and Audi businesses, and it recently reached an agreement with labor representatives that could increase planned job cuts to 100,000 globally.
Bloomberg·13hRead more →