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The firm, which will formally change its name to the London EV
Company later this year, is undergoing a rapid expansion since
it was bought out of bankruptcy by China's Geely in 2013,
opening a new plant in Coventry, central England, earlier this
year.
By the turn of the decade it hopes to sell to overseas markets
50 percent of the roughly 10,000 vehicles to be produced each
year, including a yet to be launched van, and has been showing
the new electric plug-in hybrid taxi in a number of European
cities.
Chief Executive Chris Gubbey told Reuters the firm had picked
the Netherlands as its first export market due to its
receptiveness to new technology and the new model's
compatibility with the needs of disabled people, including its
ramp and high roof.
"It is a city that is very progressive in terms of protecting
and improving its air quality," he told Reuters.
"They just recognize what the product can do for their market:
the accessibility, the ease of getting in and out," he said.
Amsterdammers will not be able to hail the taxi in the street
but instead it will be available as part of a municipal contract
hire service provided by Dutch firm RMC to transport the elderly
and disabled, including to and from hospital, he said.
RMC's chief operating officer told Reuters the firm had yet to
decide whether the 225 vehicles it is acquiring would be painted
black color but said she was confident London cabs would prove a
hit in the city and could also be used later in Rotterdam.
"This car takes away all the boundaries and all the differences
because it is possible to transport everybody, give everybody
the same experience in a beautiful car and because it is
purpose-built," Rohany Amat told Reuters.
"And it is a sustainable car. That is very important," she said.
(Reporting by Costas Pitas; Editing by Greg Mahlich)
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