News

Private hire operators in Slough are facing a three-fold increase in licensing fees after councillors approved a proposed rise. A new one-year license for private hire operators in Slough will increase from £153 to £600 – a 292% hike. And the cost of renewing…

Uber is to invest up to $1.25 billion in US-based electric car maker Rivian in a deal that could see the ride-hailing firm buy up to 50,000 autonomous vehicles from the automaker. Uber is making an initial $300m upfront investment, including an initial order…

Derby City Council has voted to scrap a controversial policy limiting the age of licensable taxi vehicles in the city to just five years old. The council’s Licensing Committee has now voted to allow vehicles up to nine years old to qualify, after a…

Uber has launched a new invite-only chauffeur service in two Californian cities, with plans to roll the service out in major cities worldwide. The service is called Uber Elite, and Uber said it was aimed at “executives, frequent travelers, and riders looking for a…

Mercedes has revealed its next-generation MPV, which will replace the EQV and V-models later this year, and will be available in both electric and combustion-engined forms. The first model to roll out will be the VLE 300 electric, followed by the VLE 400 4MATIC…

The Government has rejected calls to bring forward its review of UK electric vehicle sales targets, after the SMMT called current targets “over-optimistic” in a scathing report. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes (pictured), backed by automakers including Ford, JLR, Stellantis and Volvo, had called…

Veezu has moved into Ipswich with two acquisitions, including QSi Award-winning private hire operator CabsSmart. Avenue Taxis, Ipswich’s longest-established taxi company, has also joined the UK’s largest private hire operator, and both operators are rebranding as Veezu. The moves are part of Veezu’s goal…

Addison Lee has joined forces with Think Pink, the female-led private hire and taxi drivers’ initiative in a bid to attract more women into the London private hire and taxi trade.  With women representing less than 7% of all private hire and taxi drivers…

Taxi app Freenow by Lyft is marking International Women’s Day 2026 with a new £500 incentive for  female London taxi drivers who join the platform this month. The initiative aims to encourage more women to enter the black cab trade and help create a…

Little’s Chauffeur Drive has added two Mercedes-Benz Grand Tourer Sprinter coaches to its fleet. The investment comes as the Glasgow-based chauffeur operator celebrates 60 years in business. The Sprinters were converted to luxury specification by specialist company EVM UK and finished in Little’s traditional…