An icon lands in Japan! The London Electric Vehicle (LEVC) has just launched its TX model in Tokyo, which will serve as a premium alternative to commuters in the Land of the Rising Sun. Order books open in February and first customer deliveries will begin in Q2 2020.
The purpose-built TX is a spacious six-seater cab, complete with wheelchair access and boasts an efficient eCity powertrain that exceeds Japanese regulations. An onboard petrol generator functions as a range extender, offering up to 640 km of range, of which 130 km will be pure electric. It has a turning circle of 8.45 metres, which LEVC says is class-leading.
It uses a bonded aluminium construction instead of welding or riveting, which helps with weight savings (important to offset the battery’s weight), with LEVC claiming that the TX is the company’s safest model ever. The cabin even features a huge panoramic roof, charging points for mobile phones and laptops, and “unrivalled cabin space.”
LEVC hopes the TX will be appealing to fleet operators and premium shuttle fleets in Japanese cities. The country’s taxi industry has over 240,000 vehicles in operation, with 50,000 based in Tokyo. LEVC CEO, Joerg Hofmann said: “We are delighted to further grow our international footprint of green mobility solutions with the launch of the TX in Japan.”
“We are reinventing a British icon, transforming the company from a traditional taxi manufacturer to a green mobility company, producing a wider range of electric commercial vehicles. The electric TX will set new standards across Japan in the taxi and premium shuttle market, delighting passengers, drivers and fleet operators alike. We are looking forward to seeing TX on the streets of Tokyo and across cities throughout Japan,” he added.
Since its launch in early 2018, over 3,800 units of the TX have been sold globally. The UK remains its largest market, but LEVC is entering other markets such as Germany, France, Switzerland, Denmark, and the Middle East. LEVC even offers the TX4 in the ASEAN region, of which is assembled in Thailand.
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I wonder whether it will come to Malaysia. In the UK, the govt provides grants to offset the cost of the vehicle, which is slightly more than 60k GBP per unit.
Now China also want to enter JDM market. Banyak power Geely.
Muahahahahahahahahahahaha! Tahniah!
Geely, P1, Volvo, London Taxi, Lotus >all
Geely rescued British automaker now they come rescue Japan taxi industry. This is because of the failures by Japanese taxi industry. They were too lazy and did not change with times. They should have been more hardworking like the locals and the mainland Chinese who worked together closely now, and reaping the benefits. These lazy Japanese like to rest all day, minum 8X, and complain they don’t get enough money but you see how Geely, Proton and London Taxi can perform so well with so little money.
These unethical Japanese should stop taking our hard earned money and give us lousy cars, they should follow Geely, Proton and London Taxi to give us modern, safe, and nice looking cars. If the cars are good, they will sell themselves just like Saga FL, Persona FL, & Iriz FL. Just look at the sales, they don’t need online promoters like Perodua is doing. Just make the car good like Proton.
Since when Japanese taxi industry fails? I live in Japan and there’s no single report on the failure on taxi industry at all.
Unethical Japanese? You meant Japanese brand but based in Malaysia? Those are scumbags. Malaysians are the one highlighting profit but reduce safety specifications for consumers!
Their taxis are old and polluting the environment, that is a big failure to me.
You think Japanese market will appreciate this Chinese junk?
You think they will bring it into Japan if there is no demand?
They appreciated Volvo XC40 until they made it Japan COTY 2018….
It’s designed and manufactured in England – by LEVC. Like every car company on the planet it uses parts from suppliers all over the world but predominately in Europe. Only ‘China’ contribution is investment. Japanese car market is one of the most regulated and to be sold in Japa this Taxi has to meet incredibly high standards – which it does