RE: Electric City Vehicles15 Dec 2010 07:52
[ECV]The Mayor of London proposals are in line with ECV's strategy and are expected to benefit the Group's business over the long term as older taxis get replaced and existing fleets require more frequent inspections. Since its launch in June 2008, the Mercedes Vito has captured a 27% share of new London taxi sales. In addition, KPM Taxis, a subsidiary of ECV, is a registered MOT centre and well placed to carry out the inspections and the extra work it will bring to the dealership.
Peter DaCosta, Chief Executive of ECV, commented: "We welcome and fully support Mayor Boris Johnson's proposal to remove the older and more harmful polluting cabs from the streets of London. Under the plans, such black cabs will have to be replaced and we believe the popular Vito, which will be compliant with the Mayor's new clean air standards for London taxis, to be a premium quality choice for cabbies looking for a greener option. Over 1,200 old taxis will be immediately affected by the tighter standards and this number will increase materially as more vehicles fall outside the new age bracket. We are also confident that the growing popularity of the Vito, alongside ECV's development of an all electric taxi, will help the Mayor and London meet its European air pollution targets."