Manganese Bronze, the maker of the classic London taxi and a former niche player in Coventry's once booming car-making arena, is now the last car company in the city and enjoys the curious status of being the biggest London-listed car maker by volume. Maker of London's classic black cabs is linking with Chinese carmaker Geely. However, it is struggling with the recession. Production is down to 12 vehicles a day during a four-day week in the UK and is barely at break even. Priced between £30,000 and £34,000, they are not cheap. Regulations such as the requirements of turning circles have helped protect the company's dominant supply position in recent years -- but it has suffered a fall of up to 40 per cent in demand during the past year.
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Manganese Bronze, London's struggling cab maker, in joint venture in China
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Tie-up with Geely hopes to sell 4000 vehicles in foriegn markets
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UK production now down to 12 vehicles a day and company is barely breaking even
Manganese Bronze
Manganese Bronze
If the UK business is fragile, there is no doubting the robustness of the black cabs that have rolled off the production line at @placeholder's plant for several decades.