Sherbet boss calls on London Mayor to address decline in black taxi numbers

London taxi driver and black cab numbers have fallen again, while Private Hire licensing remains stable, according to new data from TfL.

The drop in black cab numbers has prompted Sherbet boss Asher Moses to write an open letter to London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, asking for financial support, better road access and a speeded-up Knowledge process in order to stem the decline.

TfL reported that the number of licensed taxi drivers fell to 16,847 as of February 2, 2025, with 26 drivers leaving the trade in January.  The number of licensed taxis also declined by nine to 14,501, roughly two-thirds of the 22,200 in 2013 and a decline of 600 from the  15,100 recorded by the Department for Transport in 2023.

Private hire driver numbers fell slightly by 58 to 107,921, though TfL issued 247 new licenses in the first week of February. Private hire vehicle licenses increased by 154 to reach 96,671, with 339 new vehicles added in the same week.

In his letter to Sir Sadiq, Sherbet CEO Asher Moses called for a ‘fast track’ Knowledge to be introduced. He wrote: “It’s no surprise that the number of qualifying drivers has dipped to its lowest level in 40 years and around 60% of all drivers are 50 years+. So please introduce a speedier fast-track option that still retains the high standards of the traditional Knowledge but allows accelerated training.”

He also asked for VAT relief on electric taxis and a wider choice of vehicles beyond the LEVC TX1 model , currently the only available vehicle for black cab use. And black cabs should not be excluded from bus-only streets in the City, as this was a major problem for drivers.

He also said the cost of rapid charging in London has gone up by 500% in London over the past 5 years. This was a disincentive for drivers to use the electric powertrain of the series-hybrid TX1, instead of running the car’s petrol generator and creating emissions. “I surveyed drivers this week and found 64% of them can’t afford to charge so they depend on the range extender,” he wrote.

Sherbet is one of the largest taxi fleets in London, with 500 vehicles – all of them TX1 range-extender hybrid models. The company won two Professional Driver QSi Awards at last month’s Brighton event.

Moses hopes the Mayor of London’s Taxi Action Plan, due to be announced in the coming months, will address these issues. Other operators – notably taxi app FreeNow, have suggested making the Knowledge area smaller and more focused on central London, with sat-nav systems able to cope with outer boroughs.