London electric taxi sales remain solid despite COVID-19 outbreak

London electric taxi sales figures remained solid in March despite the the COVID-19 outbreak according to data published in TAXI magazine.

The data shows 153 new electric taxis were registered in March. 148 of those new taxis licensed were the LEVC TX, with the remaining 5 taxis the fully electric Nissan Dynamo.

In March 2019 a total of 192 new taxis were registered. Based on that comparison, taxi sales for the month dropped just 20.3% despite the COVID-19 outbreak.

Whilst these vehicles would have been ordered months in advance for the change of plate month, the figures stack up well against data for the overall UK car market which has shown a sharp drop.

According to figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the UK new car market declined -44.4% in March.

In the important plate change month 203,370 fewer cars were registered than in March 2019, as showrooms closed in line with government advice to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

The overall UK performance represented a steeper fall than that during the 2009 financial crisis and the worst March since the late nineties when the market changed to the bi-annual plate change system.

With lockdowns taking place in many European countries earlier than the UK, even more dramatic falls have been reported elsewhere, with Italy down -85%, France -72% and Spain down -69% in March.

Image credit: LEVC