FORD MAXiCAB TAXI HITS THE ROAD: A new black cab rolls out across the UK with an eye on London
Allied Vehicles Group has now launched a new black taxi, the Ford MAXiCab, developed in partnership with Ford Pro UK. Managing Director Peter Facenna announced the news on LinkedIn, stating that the vehicle is already approved for use in Glasgow and Edinburgh, with plans to expand across other UK cities.
Facenna highlighted the MAXiCab as a step forward in accessibility and environmental standards, claiming it to be the only true zero-emission taxi currently available. The vehicle, designed to meet the demands of modern cities, offers improved accessibility for wheelchair users and is more affordable for drivers. According to Facenna, this makes it a viable solution for achieving greener, more inclusive urban transport.
However, the MAXiCab does not comply with Transport for London’s (TfL) turning circle requirements, a regulation dating back to 1906. This means the vehicle cannot operate as a taxi in London as it stands. Facenna described this as a missed opportunity for the capital, noting that London’s black cab numbers have fallen, leaving wheelchair users with significantly reduced access compared to cities like Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, and Liverpool.
Facenna urged TfL and Mayor Sadiq Khan to review the regulations. He emphasised that the MAXiCab could help London meet its 2030 net-zero emissions target while modernising its taxi fleet to align with accessibility and affordability standards seen in other UK cities.
Facenna said on LinkedIn: “Our new black taxi, the MAXiCab, developed in an exclusive partnership between Allied Vehicles Group and Ford Pro UK, is now out on the road and will soon be seen in cities throughout the country. It’s an amazing product and I’m so proud of the job my team has done in bringing it to life.
“The vehicle has already been approved in Glasgow and Edinburgh and soon both cities will have the greenest and most accessible taxis in the country.Â
“Our new vehicle doesn’t meet the current Transport for London turning circle requirement for taxis, which dates from a regulation first introduced in 1906, and sadly this means that taxi drivers, wheelchair users, and London inhabitants and tourists won’t be able to enjoy the benefits our new taxi brings.
“Due to the decline in London black cab numbers, wheelchair users in London currently have a 27% less chance of being able to hail a taxi than they do in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester and Liverpool, and our new taxi is also 20% more accessible for wheelchair users than what’s currently used in London, as well as being more affordable for taxi drivers to purchase.
“Our taxi is also the only true zero emission taxi available, which could really help London achieve its 2030 net zero target.Â
“I look forward to engaging with Transport for London and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to find a way for London, the UK's capital, not to be left behind in the transition to more modern, more accessible, more affordable, and more environmentally friendly taxis.“
