Carbodies Ltd, which became London Taxis International in 1984, was established in 1919 in Coventry as a coach-building operation. The company grew and moved to the current LTI Vehicles site in Holyhead Road in Coventry in 1928. In 1948 the company built its first taxi, the FX3, based on an Austin vehicle and since that time over 100,000 taxis have been built.

In 1959 the company produced its own first purpose built taxi – the FX4. In 1973 Carbodies was bought by Manganese Bronze Holdings plc and in 1984 they formed London Taxis International also known as LTI Vehicles, to manufacture and sell taxis.

Today, LTI Vehicles is the largest remaining British owned passenger car manufacturer in the UK, employing over 400 people.

As the rules and regulations governing the requirements for purpose built taxis have changed over the years so have the LTI models. The outgoing model is the TXII which is sold of course in London, where purpose built taxis are exclusively required and it is a common sight in other cities and towns throughout Great Britain. The TXII is also exported to 35 different countries around the world including USA, China, Spain, Pakistan, South Africa and Japan. No wonder the company slogan for their taxis is "Hailed the world over."

In October 2006, Manganese Bronze Holdings plc, the parent company of LTI Vehicles, announced it had signed a Heads of Terms agreement with Chinese car manufacturer Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. Ltd. (Geely) to establish a £53 million joint venture company to produce the iconic London black taxi in Shanghai for the Chinese market. From mid 2008 the joint company will produce 20,000 London taxis for sale in China and there is the possibility of supplying some Chinese sourced components to LTIs UK manufacturing headquarters in Coventry.

The LTI product values are to build a taxi that …

• Provides a secure and safe environment for drivers and passengers
• Is environmentally friendly with low emissions and made from recyclable materials where possible
• Complies with all current and works towards all future planned European vehicle legislation
• Is easily recognisable based on the famous shape of the traditional London taxi
• Is fully accessible and integrated with other forms of public transport
• Offers the best facilities, utility and comfort for drivers and passengers
• Is a product with strength, longevity and security

LTI Vehicles Profile

• The world’s premier manufacturer of purpose-built taxis
• The largest UK owned vehicle manufacturer
• Established in Coventry in 1919 as Carbodies Ltd
• Built first FX3 in 1948
• More than 100,000 vehicles produced since the first FX4 was made in 1959
• Built the Fairway, the first truly wheelchair accessible taxi in 1989
• The first TXI was made in 1997
• The TXII was launched in 2002 and enhanced in 2003
• LTI Vehicles employs over 400 staff at the Coventry plant and within the dealer network
• LTI is an operating division of Manganese Bronze Holdings plc
• There is a national LTI dealer network including four LTI owned Mann & Overton Dealers and over 70 LTI Approved Service Dealers