Rival black cab for London - Business - Evening Standard
       

Rival black cab for London

London is to get its first rival to the traditional black cab for decades.

Germany's Mercedes Vito Traveliner is a six-seater people carrier that has been adapted in this country to achieve the 25-ft turning circle demanded by the Carriage Office for licensed cabs.

EcoCity Vehicles, owner of the taxi distributor KPM-UK, has signed an exclusive licence with Mercedes to distribute the vehicle, which will be officially launched in 10 days' time. Although the price will not be revealed until then, the new cab is expected to cost a similar amount to its only rival, Manganese Bronze's London Taxi International models. EcoCity chief executive Peter Da Costa said he had been working on the deal and the re-engineering of the new taxi for three years.

He added: "Cab drivers and passengers in London will now have a choice of vehicle."

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