SPECULATION ENDED: New LEVC TX Access vehicle CANNOT be licensed as a London minicab says LTDA
Updated: Jul 24, 2023
The Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association (LTDA) brushed off speculation surrounding the newly launched LEVC TX Access vehicle saying it can NEVER be licensed as a minicab in the capital.
After days of scaremongering circulating on social media and other platforms, some in the industry were suggesting that the TX Access could be licensed for use as a private hire vehicle (PHV).
LEVC recently unveiled the TX Access at the P4H, Procurement for Health, event, which primarily targets NHS procurement. The vehicle was presented to NHS leaders and decision-makers as a means of patient transfer.
According to legislation governing the sector, a PHV cannot possess a similar appearance to that as a London black cab.
An LTDA spokesperson said in TAXI Newspaper: “There has been a lot of inaccurate speculation and a fair bit of scare mongering on social media and elsewhere, that the newly launched LEVC ‘TX Access’ – a new vehicle based on the TXE, but without a hire light and with additional accessibility features – could be licensed for use as a private hire vehicle (PHV).
“LEVC launched the new vehicle this month at the P4H, Procurement for Health, event, which is aimed at NHS procurement, where the vehicle was being pitched to NHS leaders and decisionmakers, as a means of patient transfer.
“Some have totally misinterpreted this as some sort of private hire event and pointed to this launch suggesting that PH drivers will all now be rushing out to buy a TX Access and stealing taxi drivers work. This is simply not the case.
“Firstly, the vehicle is likely far too expensive for PH drivers to even consider it and more importantly, TfL has confirmed that such a vehicle would never be licensed as a PHV in London.
“The legislation that governs the sector clearly states that a PHV cannot be "of such design and appearance as would lead any person to believe that the vehicle is a London cab." The similarities between the TXE and TX Access would therefore make this impossible. Rest assured.”
