Royaume-Uni
LEVC
LEVC, for London Electric Vehicle Company, is a British manufacturer whose roots reach back more than a century of London taxi production. London's famous "black cab" was built over the decades by several entities, including the London Taxi Company and its parent company Manganese Bronze Holdings. In 2006, the Chinese group Geely partnered with these companies to create a joint venture to produce taxis in China. When Manganese Bronze entered administration in 2012 for lack of financing, Geely took over part of the operations in 2013 and founded The London Taxi Corporation Limited, which took the name London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) in 2017. Starting in 2014, Geely injected hundreds of millions of pounds into the project. In 2015, the company announced the construction of a new plant and headquarters at Ansty Park, northeast of Coventry, England, representing an investment of more than 500 million pounds. This site, which opened in 2017, became the first British plant dedicated to building electric vehicles. That same year, LEVC launched the TX, a range-extended electric taxi that replaced the older diesel models. Success came quickly: by April 2022, more than 5,000 TX units had been sold in London, roughly one third of the capital's taxi fleet. In 2019, LEVC unveiled the VN5, a commercial van derived from the TX, which went on sale in the United Kingdom in 2020. The brand has since exported its iconic taxi to several dozen countries, mainly in Europe, Asia, and Oceania. LEVC remains a wholly owned subsidiary of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. In North America, the brand's presence is essentially absent from the consumer market: LEVC does not sell its vehicles there through an established dealer network, and its products remain rare in Quebec and Canada, where they are not certified for routine retail sale.
ActiveÉlectrique / hybrideCamion / utilitaireEuropéennes
History
History of LEVC
LEVC, for London Electric Vehicle Company, is a British manufacturer whose roots reach back more than a century of London taxi production. London's famous "black cab" was built over the decades by several entities, including the London Taxi Company and its parent company Manganese Bronze Holdings. In 2006, the Chinese group Geely partnered with these companies to create a joint venture to produce taxis in China. When Manganese Bronze entered administration in 2012 for lack of financing, Geely took over part of the operations in 2013 and founded The London Taxi Corporation Limited, which took the name London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) in 2017. Starting in 2014, Geely injected hundreds of millions of pounds into the project. In 2015, the company announced the construction of a new plant and headquarters at Ansty Park, northeast of Coventry, England, representing an investment of more than 500 million pounds. This site, which opened in 2017, became the first British plant dedicated to building electric vehicles. That same year, LEVC launched the TX, a range-extended electric taxi that replaced the older diesel models. Success came quickly: by April 2022, more than 5,000 TX units had been sold in London, roughly one third of the capital's taxi fleet. In 2019, LEVC unveiled the VN5, a commercial van derived from the TX, which went on sale in the United Kingdom in 2020. The brand has since exported its iconic taxi to several dozen countries, mainly in Europe, Asia, and Oceania. LEVC remains a wholly owned subsidiary of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. In North America, the brand's presence is essentially absent from the consumer market: LEVC does not sell its vehicles there through an established dealer network, and its products remain rare in Quebec and Canada, where they are not certified for routine retail sale.
Public founding or origin of LEVC.
Technologies
Technologies, innovations and platforms
LEVC relies on eCity technology, a range-extended electric powertrain. The vehicle is always driven by an electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery, while a small three-cylinder gasoline engine serves only as a generator to recharge the battery on the move, without driving the wheels. Recent versions have seen the battery capacity raised to roughly 34.6 kWh, increasing the pure-electric range. The brand is also developing an architecture called Space Oriented Architecture (SOA), an electric platform designed to maximize interior space and enable new segments beyond the TX and VN5. The engineering benefits from the resources of the Geely group, notably its European technical center located in Sweden. The emphasis is on robustness, accessibility (ramps, large cabin), and durability under intensive urban use.
Brand image
Identity, reputation, strengths and weaknesses
Positioning
A specialized British manufacturer, owned by Geely, dedicated to electric, range-extended urban taxis and commercial vehicles.
Reputation
LEVC's TX enjoys a solid reputation for robustness and reliability under intensive taxi use. London drivers report very high mileage, sometimes beyond 150,000 miles, with few reported breakdowns. Designed to run full days in an urban setting, the vehicle is valued for its durability, its large, accessible cabin, and its passenger comfort, which is particularly praised by tourists. The range-extender technology offers reassurance against range anxiety. On the other hand, the brand remains highly specialized and low-profile outside its target markets, which limits independent reviews and resale-value data, especially in North America.
Strengths
Recognized specialization in the electrified taxi and urban commercial vehicle, with proven robustness over very high mileage. The range extender eliminates range anxiety. Spacious and accessible cabin, refined passenger comfort, durability under intensive use. The industrial and financial backing of the Geely group ensures solid engineering resources and well-mastered electrification.
Points to watch
A very narrow lineup, centered on the taxi and the van, with no diversified consumer offering. An almost total absence from the North American market: no dealer network, parts, or service in Quebec, which complicates purchase, maintenance, and resale. Modest pure-electric range, and the presence of a backup combustion engine. Low brand awareness and little reliability or residual-value data outside the United Kingdom.
Models
LEVC models
Current or active models by market
Production and compatibility
Plants, tires and wheels
Production
LEVC's main production site is at Ansty Park, near Coventry, England. Opened in 2017, this plant was the first British facility entirely dedicated to manufacturing electric vehicles, the result of an investment of more than 500 million pounds. LEVC also draws on Geely group industrial capacity in China, notably for the production of kits and for certain models intended for the Chinese market. The brand has no plant in North America and neither assembles nor produces vehicles there. Its presence on the continent remains marginal, with no industrial network or local assembly line.
Tires and wheels
LEVC vehicles, the TX taxi and the VN5 van, are heavy-duty commercial vehicles designed for intensive urban use, which calls for tires with high load capacity and reinforced sidewalls. Wheel diameters generally fall within the compact-commercial range (around 16 to 18 inches depending on the version). In Quebec, certified winter tires are mandatory and strongly recommended for these heavy, continuous-use vehicles, in order to ensure traction and braking on snow and ice. Always verify the original bolt pattern, load index, and speed rating before choosing tires or wheels; since these vehicles remain rare in North America, confirm the exact dimensions on the manufacturer's plate.