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Short-term London black cab shortage feared as LTDA and Freenow demand TfL grant a temporary taxi age-limit suspension
The Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA) and Freenow by Lyft have backed calls for temporary changes to London taxi age limits after LEVC confirmed its next-generation black cab will not reach the UK market until the second half of 2027.
The calls follow confirmation from LEVC that final assembly of the current TX will conclude in September 2026, allowing its Ansty production facility to prepare for the new purpose-built taxi. The manufacturer has said the replacement will launch during the second half of next year, but an exact date has not yet been announced.
That timetable means there will be no continuous flow of newly manufactured LEVC taxis between the end of current TX assembly and the arrival of the replacement model. Even if the new taxi reaches the market at the beginning of the second half of 2027, the gap would run for around nine months.
LTDA General Secretary Steve McNamara has now written to Danny Price, Transport for London’s Director of Sponsored Services and Regulatory Compliance, asking for an immediate temporary suspension of the age limit affecting older taxis while new vehicle supply remains constrained.
The letter seen by TaxiPoint, says the association had previously raised the prospect of a supply gap with TfL and City Hall officials.
McNamara welcomed the commitment to a new purpose-built taxi, referring to the forthcoming vehicle in his letter as the TX6, but warned that the period before it becomes available could reduce the number of cabs available to working drivers.
He said: “Unfortunately, the new cab will not be available until next year and with sales of the current model, the TXE, now stopped, there will be a considerable period in which my members will not be able to buy a new cab.
“Whilst LEVC do have a reasonable stock of second hand TXEs, this will not be enough to sustain the current fleet numbers going forward, as older cabs fall off licence because of the age limit. As a result, there is a real likelihood that there will be a shortage of taxis with the consequence that some drivers will be unable to find a cab and will effectively be rendered unemployed.”
McNamara said discussions had already taken place over the possibility of an extended gap between current production ending and the new taxi arriving.
He added: “When I met with yourself, the mayors political and air quality teams in the summer, we discussed the likelihood of a prolonged gap between the TXE ceasing production and the TX6 becoming available and I proposed then that the only solution in the short term is a temporary hiatus of the 12-year age limit until the supply of new vehicles is resumed.
“Now that we finally have confirmation that the TX6 is coming and a workable time frame, I would ask that you implement a temporary suspension of the age limit with immediate effect.”
Freenow by Lyft has now added its support to the call, arguing that the limited availability of second-hand vehicles may not be sufficient to replace taxis leaving the fleet before new production becomes available.
Danny O’Gorman, General Manager at Freenow by Lyft UKI, said: “This LEVC announcement is great news for the taxi trade and marks an exciting next step for London’s transport network. We are pleased that LEVC is continuing to set the benchmark for purpose-built taxis with the range-extended TX6, which will deliver a much greener, higher-spec vehicle that lowers running costs for drivers.
“However, with the TX6 not available until next year and the limited stock of second-hand vehicles will not be enough to sustain fleet numbers as older cabs reach their licensing age limits. Without proactive measures, this shortage risks leaving drivers without vehicles and impacting livelihoods with direct impact on passengers as well.
“To protect London’s world-class, wheelchair-accessible black cab fleet for the long term, we support calls for a temporary suspension of the 12-year age limit until the supply of new vehicles is fully restored.”
The manufacturer described the vehicle as its “next-generation” taxi and said full technical details remain under wraps, with further information on technology, capability, manufacturing and exact launch timing to follow.
The age-limit issue is also more specific than a blanket 12-year rule across every London black cab. TfL currently states that Euro 3, Euro 4 and Euro 5 diesel taxis have a maximum operating age of 12 years, while zero-emission-capable taxis, Euro 6 taxis and qualifying LPG vehicles have a 15-year limit. TfL retains discretion to grant exemptions in exceptional circumstances.
The policy was introduced as part of measures intended to accelerate the removal of older diesel taxis and improve London air quality. TfL’s 2025 Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan said the reduction from 15 years to 12 years for Euro 3, 4 and 5 diesel taxis was phased in between November 2019 and November 2022.
The question for TfL will now be whether maintaining that timetable during an unusual period of restricted new-vehicle supply could remove usable taxis from the fleet faster than replacements can enter service.
LEVC confirmed on Wednesday that its new model will be engineered from the ground up to meet TfL’s Metropolitan Conditions of Fitness and will replace the TX launched in 2018. The manufacturer has sold more than 12,000 TX taxis worldwide.
Neither the LTDA nor Freenow is calling for a permanent removal of age limits. Both are seeking a temporary change linked specifically to the period before the supply of new taxis is restored.
