News

Karhoo adds new travel sector partners to bolster global ambitions

21 August 2020, 08:44

Mobility aggregator Karhoo has added four new partners to expand its exposure in the international travel market. Now owned by Renault, Karhoo connects taxi and chauffeur fleets with travel clients. The new partnerships are with Trip.com; Fareportal, which also operates CheapOair.com and OneTravel.com; accessible…

Investment specialist MBH Corporation acquires Leicester taxi company ADT for £3.4m

20 August 2020, 08:43

London-based investment company MBH Corporation PLC has bought Leicester-based taxi operator ADT for £3.4 million. ADT has 600 drivers on strength and the company owns 150 of its cars. ADT is part of the Riide network, and indeed in 2017 changed its company name…

‘Trojan Horse’ Autocab deal hands Uber a lifeline and will bring about taxi industry’s demise, claims iCabbi CEO Walsh

13 August 2020, 17:25

The CEO of iCabbi has launched a ferocious attack on Uber’s takeover of iCabbi’s main rival, Autocab, accusing the dispatch systems supplier of throwing Uber a lifeline, and claiming the takeover was a “trojan horse” for Uber to take business from the private hire…

Autocab moves to quell operators’ data fears after dramatic Uber takeover

6 August 2020, 17:52

Autocab has reassured operators that the company’s sale to Uber will open up new opportunities for them, as it will give them access to jobs in towns and cities where the US ride-hailing operator does not operate. Uber yesterday acquired 100% of the Manchester-based…

IWGB leads London private hire protest on Tower Bridge against Congestion Charge price rise

30 July 2020, 07:24

The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain has organised a two-hour blockage of Tower Bridge by London private hire drivers in protest against the rise in the Congestion Charge. The protest passed close to City Hall, with the IWGB blaming London Mayor Sadiq Khan…

Black cab drivers unhappy as merged Free Now app adds private hire cars in bit to beat Uber

29 July 2020, 10:20

Taxi app Free Now is now offering both hackney carriage and private hire services via the same app in London. The move follows the merger earlier in the year of Free Now and Kapten, both of which are owned by Daimler. The combined service…

Government’s new taxi and private hire guidance falls short of standards required, says Institute of Licensing chief

29 July 2020, 10:19

The Department for Transport has drawn criticism for its “robust” new statutory standards for the taxi and private hire vehicle sector – including app-based services – across England and Wales. Among new recommendations announced by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps (pictured), drivers will have to…

Manchester proposes colour-coded scheme for taxis and private hire vehicles as part of major upgrade to services

29 July 2020, 10:18

Greater Manchester’s combined authority has proposed that the region’s hackney taxis be painted black and all private hire vehicles white as part of plans to “modernise” services. The combined authority said it wanted to introduce common minimum standards for taxi and private hire firms,…

Ford reveals partition screens for Transit and Tourneo models, with car screens to follow

18 July 2020, 07:14

Ford has also launched its first protection screens, designed to fit the Transit and Tourneo Custom models. The screens are part of the manufacturer’s official accessories range, and are likely to be approved by TfL future for use in Tourneos used for private hire…

TfL approves official Toyota temporary partition screens

18 July 2020, 07:12

Transport for London has approved partition screens supplied by Toyota to fit a range of its cars. The Toyota screens are the first to be officially approved by TfL, which earlier forced Addison Lee to remove screens from its fleet after a customer videoed…