Cab Direct hosts London preview of Ford MAXiCab taxi
- Perry Richardson
- 6 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Cab Direct has staged a preview event in central London to showcase its new Ford MAXiCab taxi to licensed drivers.
The vehicle supplier confirmed it was “all set up and ready in the capital city” with its Ford MAXiCab, hosting an exclusive event on Great Suffolk Street offering drivers the chance to speak directly with MAXiCab specialists and take the vehicle out for a test drive on Tuesday.
According to the company’s update, the event is aimed at giving London drivers the opportunity to learn more about the model and assess its suitability for work in the capital’s regulated taxi market. Cab Direct described the MAXiCab as “the future of London’s black cabs”.
The MAXiCab is based on a platform supplied by Ford and is being positioned as a wheelchair-accessible vehicle designed to meet licensing requirements throughout the UK.
Exclusive Great Suffolk Street event offers capital’s drivers test drives of new purpose-built black cab alternative
The showcase comes at a time when vehicle choice, emissions compliance and financing costs remain central considerations for owner-drivers and fleet owners. Manufacturers and converters continue to compete for market share as drivers weigh upfront purchase prices against long-term running costs and regulatory obligations.
The Ford MAXiCab is a purpose-built, wheelchair-accessible taxi developed by Cab Direct in partnership with Ford and has gained approvals in several UK cities such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, Chelmsford, Southampton and Brighton. It is designed with increased interior space and zero-emission variants to appeal to drivers and passengers alike.
Why it faces a hurdle in London
London’s taxi licensing is governed by strict Conditions of Fitness set by Transport for London (TfL). A defining element of those rules is a maximum turning circle requirement ensuring taxis can turn within a short radius to navigate the capital’s constrained streets and kerbside ranks. Vehicles that do not meet this are not eligible for a London taxi licence.
The MAXiCab, although certified as a GB type-approved wheelchair-accessible vehicle and meeting all other licensing standards for most UK authorities, does not comply with this tight turning circle requirement as it stands. That prevents automatic approval for use as a licensed taxi in London.
Supporters of the MAXiCab argue the turn-circle rule acts as a barrier to competition and innovation. They point to other major UK cities that have relaxed or removed the requirement, enabling the MAXiCab and similar vehicles to operate. Some taxi trade voices and industry figures suggest that modern power steering and changes to traffic conditions diminish the original rationale for the rule, and that retaining it limits choice.
Transport for London and the Mayor have stated that any vehicle, including the MAXiCab, must meet the full Conditions of Fitness to be licensed. TfL has not signalled a removal of the turning circle requirement and maintains an openness to discussion with manufacturers, but continues to enforce existing standards.
