News
Two leading midlands private hire operators have merged to create a regional giant with a combined fleet of 370 cars. Chads Cars of Derby and Star Cars of Birmingham have joined forces – with the merger taking place 31 years to the day after…
Specialist dealer The Taxi Centre is entering the black cab and hackney market after agreeing a new partnership with London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC). The dealer, part of the massive Vertu Motors dealer group, has been appointed sales and aftersales partner for LEVC in…
Edinburgh Airport has invited taxi and private hire operators to tender for its taxi rank contract, which is up for renewal next April. The decision means current licence holders City Cabs and Edinburgh City Private Hire will face competition in order to keep their…
Transport for London has granted ride-hailing app Free Now a three-year private hire vehicle operator’s licence. This is the longest licence awarded to any of the big four ride-hailing app operators in London. In a statement, Free Now said it was committed to investing…
Leeds taxi drivers have staged further protests outside the city’s Civic Hall after the local authority approved controversial changes to driver regulations. At a meeting on Tuesday, Leeds City Council’s licensing committee agreed to recommend the rule change, under which drivers with 9 points…
Veezu has made further acquisitions in Yorkshire and the West Midlands as it continues to expand its major regional hubs. The company’s West Midlands arm, Go Carz, has acquired Shrewsbury Cars and its sister company Oswestry Cars, making it the biggest operator in the…
Uber is adding train and coach travel options, including international train trips, to its app under a new tie-up in the UK. The move will allow customers to book longer distance journeys on the same app they use for taxis, and sees Uber move…
Fast-growing taxi operator Take Me has added another company to its portfolio. The Leicestershire-based group has acquired north-eastern operator 1AB Taxis, adding another 170 vehicles to the national fleet. 1AB was formed in 1984 in Darlington. Its name derives from its original slogan –…
Use of ride-hailing apps does not constitute plying for hire, the Court of Appeal has ruled. In a landmark decision, three High Court judges rejected claims by a taxi activists group that the Free Now app was acting unlawfully by operating in London. In…
A leading London chauffeur operator has called on London Mayor Sadiq Khan to reverse Transport for London’s policy of refusing to licence diesel vehicles. Martin Cox, CEO of Gerrards, claimed the policy was damaging chauffeurs’ businesses and costing TfL money, and called on mayor…