FX4 was further developed and became the LTI Fairway. Rebranded as London Taxis International In 1992 the company was rebranded London Taxis International with three divisions: LTI Carbodies, LTI Mann & Overton and London Taxi Finance. In 1997, a new model of taxicab, the TX1 was introduced as a successor to the FX4. Further development resulted in the launch in 2002 of the TXII, powered by a Ford Dura Torq 2.4-litre diesel engine and featuring an integral fold-down ramp for wheelchair users. It also has an intermediate step and swivel-out seat for passengers with moderate walking difficulties. For people with hearing problems it has an induction loop incorporated in the intercom system. In 2007 the TXII was replaced by the TX4. This series established LTI Vehicles as a worldwide supplier of London-type taxis. In October 2010 the London Taxis International was rebranded as The London Taxi Company. A joint venture with Chinese car maker Geely, who already held a 20% interest in the company through its Manganese Bronze shareholding, was formed to build a factory in Shanghai to manufacture London taxis for the export market and to supply components to the home factory in Coventry. In 2010 the Mann & Overton trading name was dropped. Administration In October 2012, following a suspension of sales due to the discovery of a serious flaw with vehicle steering components and having failed in an attempt to obtain new financing, the company was placed in voluntary administration. The quite recently specified faulty steering components had been sourced from Geely supplier, Gang Yang in China. In February 2013, certain assets of The London Taxi Company were purchased from administrator PricewaterhouseCoopers by Geely. It continued to trade as The London Taxi Company until rebranded as the London EV Company in September 2017 developing electric commercial vehicles at a new plant near Coventry, the first into production being an electric taxicab - the LEVC TX. Gallery Carbodies' MGs They provided most bodies for the separate chassis cars Carbodies' prewar sports bodies Carbodies' postwar drophead coupés and estate cars Carbodies' Daimlers Carbodies' taxis, hire cars and commercial vehicles LTI taxis See also Taxicabs of the United Kingdom References Bill Munro, Carbodies: The Complete Story, Crowood, UK 1998, London Taxi Company press releases External links London Vintage Taxi Association Owners Club and Forum. Coachbuilders of the United Kingdom Coventry motor companies Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United Kingdom