Ford MAXiCab draws strong interest from taxi drivers at Heathrow Airport preview as licensing push continues
- Perry Richardson
- Nov 18, 2025
- 2 min read
Cab Direct brought the Ford MAXiCab to London Heathrow for a preview event held with the London Cab Drivers Club (LCDC), attracting a steady stream of taxi drivers keen to see the new purpose-built model up close.
The MAXiCab is designed as a full-specification taxi built to meet the needs of modern urban work. It offers a spacious passenger compartment, a large luggage area and a layout aimed at improving access for all users. Drivers at the Heathrow showing were seen lining up to inspect its seating, cabin space and rear loading capacity, with many spending time discussing running suitability and passenger practicality.
Cab Direct say the MAXiCab is engineered to meet the standards expected across UK licensing authorities. The firm is now pushing to secure approval in London, the most regulated taxi market in the country. London’s Conditions of Fitness set a higher bar than almost anywhere else, covering turning circle requirements, accessibility features and safety equipment.
Winning approval in the capital would open the model to thousands of working taxi drivers who currently have a limited choice of new vehicles.
Outside London, demand is growing for new options as ageing diesel fleets approach end-of-life deadlines and local authorities pursue cleaner vehicles. Cab Direct are positioning the MAXiCab as a practical replacement choice for many cities that can be adopted nationwide without the need for local modifications.
For London drivers, much of the interest centres on cost, cabin layout and whether the vehicle will be accepted by passengers as a ‘black cab’ icon. Many who attended the Heathrow preview were focused on whether the vehicle can deliver a reliable offering at a price point that works in today’s taxi market.
