LONDON CABS
Now, Made In China

JANHAVI ABHYANKAR
23 Jan 2009

Now, Made In China
Black Magic: London’s iconic black cabs will
now be seen in China (Lucas Schifres)
The black cabs are perhaps for Londoners what the yellow and black taxis were for Indians till a few years ago. While one does not see too many of those iconic taxis on Delhi roads anymore, London cabs still seem part of the landscape of the Queen’s city — even though they face competition from sleeker alternatives.

And now they are all set to go places. Chinese automaker Gelly started full-scale production of these famous British cabs in Hangzhou in mid-December, after a joint venture with London Taxi International. Gelly plans to sell 6,000 taxis in the next one year — more than double the annual output at London Taxi’s Coventry plant. This will help them get a global footprint as Gelly plans to export them as well — to the US and middle-east.

The move may be a result of the falling popularity of the cabs in their city of origin. Julie Smith, a student at University College London says, “There are other taxies and hire-cabs, which are more convenient.”

But some like 70-year-old professor Anand Kanbur, who taught at the University of Birmingham, fondly remembers his royal ride in the big black cab, when he came to the UK for the first time.

Soon, people in China and the US will get a taste of travelling London-style, back home.

(Businessworld Issue 27 Jan-02 Feb 2009)