The Mercedes-Benz Vito Taxi has outsold the London Taxi Company’s TX4 black cab in London so far in 2017, latest Transport for London figures have revealed. It gives Mercedes-Benz a 55.1 percent market share of London’s black cab market.
489 Vito Taxis were sold, compared to 399 TX4 London black cabs – because, reckons Mercedes-Benz Vans UK Ltd MD Steve Bridge, “Vito Taxi provides the most comfortable, efficient journey”. The six-seater Merc cab includes air con for both driver and passengers, dual electric-slide passenger doors and even electrically-operated steps.
The diesel engines also all feature engine stop-start, killing the motor in traffic to cap city centre emissions. They’re Euro 6 emissions compliant too, and 2017 models also come with a spare wheel carrier as standard, by popular demand.
It needn’t cost London cabbies a fortune, either. Mercedes-Benz Vans is offering the Vito Taxi for £170 a week, with zero deposit, on a 48-month agreement (with a £15,900 final payment). The mileage is a generous 30,000 per year, although you must order before 1 October to take advantage of the zero-deposit deal.
Arch-rival the London Taxi Company is this year rebranding itself as the London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC), in readiness to roll out an all-new petrol-electric hybrid London black cab that can run as a zero-emissions electric vehicle in town.
The new model will cost almost £56,000 to buy – although LEVC is offering it on a five-year lease deal for cabbies. Price? £177 a week – with, thanks to the 70-mile electric range, a potential £100 a week saving on fuel costs to factor in as well…