News

Lyft to rebrand TBR Global as Alcove in 2027, creating major Blacklane rival

19 October 2026, 22:05

Ride-hailing giant Lyft has announced plans to rebrand its recently acquired chauffeur operation TBR Global Chauffeuring as Alcove. Alcove will be US-based Lyft’s dedicated brand for global chauffeuring services, and will compete directly with Blacklane, which was recently acquired by Lyft’s main global rival,…

Government to review airport drop-off charges after sharp increases over past 12 months

19 October 2026, 22:04

The Government has launched a review into Airport drop-off charges following complaints about sharp price rises in recent years. Drop-off and pick-up charges at major UK airports have risen by a third since the summer of 2025 on average. Sixteen of the UK’s 20…

BMW reveals gun-proof Concept 7 Protection without full armour for lower security risks

13 October 2026, 19:41

BMW has unveiled a second armoured version of the 7-series, targeting lower-risk customers who still require a bulletproof, security-enabled luxury saloon without the weight and driveability penalties of the fully blast-proof BMW 7 Series Protection model. The Concept 7 Protection offers lower levels of…

London Assembly takes hard line on robotaxis in scathing new report

12 October 2026, 22:01

The London Assembly has demanded a halt to the deployment of autonomous taxis in London. In a damning report, it has made 13 recommendations to bring strict regulation to the so-called “robotaxi” market. The report, “Who’s driving the future of autonomous transport in London?”…

Bolt refused Supreme Court appeal in HMRC VAT dispute

8 October 2026, 21:41

The Supreme Court has refused ride-hailer Bolt permission to appeal in its dispute with HMRC over how it charges VAT on passenger journeys. The decision means Bolt could now be liable for an estimated £190 million in unpaid VAT – and Uber could be…

BMW launches new chauffeur programme for 7-series and i7

5 October 2026, 09:00

BMW UK has launched a new dedicated BMW Chauffeur Programme developed specifically for chauffeurs and executive transport providers using the new BMW 7-Series and electric BMW i7. The programme has been designed to deliver a consistent, nationwide, specialist support service, tailored to the unique…

East Midlands Airport hikes drop-off charges and cuts waiting time

5 October 2026, 07:13

East Midlands Airport has raised its drop-off charge, impacting taxi and private hire drivers who drop off passengers outside the terminal. The price for using the rapid drop-off area has increased from £5 for 15 minutes to £8 for 10 minutes. The airport said…

BeEV introduces EV charging pass subscription scheme

5 October 2026, 07:11

EV charging network Be.EV has introduced an EV charging pass scheme which could save high-mileage drivers hundreds of pounds a year. Drivers pay a fixed monthly fee for a charging allowance that can be used across the nationwide network, without needing to track peak,…

Wheely launches single-payment Family Accounts scheme for members

30 September 2026, 17:39

Chauffeur platform Wheely has launched a new Family Accounts scheme that allows eligible customers to extend their Wheely membership privileges to the people closest to them and share one single payment method to book journeys. Members can invite up to six people to join…

Source launches rewards scheme, giving PHV drivers points on every charge

30 September 2026, 17:37

EV charging network Source has launched a rewards scheme that will give private hire drivers points every time they charge. The Source Rewards programme uses a loyalty programme called PowerGoodies, which lets drivers turn charging into vouchers for Tesco, Costa, Asda, Sainsbury’s and other…