TAXI RECOVERY: ‘We are already starting to see the signs of market recovery” says LEVC CEO

Image credit: LEVC

The boss of leading taxi manufacturers London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) has announced that they are seeing signs of early market recovery as a result of coronavirus pandemic restrictions easing.

This week Joerg Hofmann, LEVC CEO, spoke in-person at an LEVC ‘Freedom Day’ after almost two years of COVID-19 restrictions. The firm’s CEO was able to brief all staff on the direction the company plans to head in.

Joerg Hofmann, LEVC CEO, said: “There’s no doubt that 2021 has brought many challenges – as it has for all global commercial vehicle manufacturers – but our outlook remains very positive, with continued national and international growth and the introduction of exciting new product.

“Recently we announced e-Camper – the world’s first electric campervan. This exciting and timely product strengthens our portfolio, further positioning LEVC as a leader in electric mobility. E-Camper offers both flexibility and freedom and also meets the growing demand for independent, self-contained holidays, a trend accelerated by both the Covid pandemic and the search for more sustainable travel. Already our new e-camper has around 500 expressions of interest and we expect to have our first vehicles later this year.

“As a British brand with more than 100 years of history, the UK will always be our home market – and we’re proud that our domestic presence continues on an upward trajectory. In the last year, our dealer network has grown dramatically, and we now have over 50 sales and service centres across the country. Critically, this ensures that no customer is ever further than a 45-minute drive to their nearest LEVC service point.

“In Europe we have officially launched our new VN5 electric van in Germany, Austria, Poland and Hungary – with Spain and the Netherlands to follow imminently. Germany remains a crucial market, one that continues to lead in e-mobility and sustainability. I am delighted to say that we now have over 12 sales and service dealers in place in Germany, with a total of 23 across Europe. Our aim is to achieve 60% export sales by 2024.

“To support this target, we are also actively appointing and searching for importers outside of Europe and have recently entered the Israeli market through our partner EV Motors. We plan to continue our ambitious network growth this year having already entered Egypt and Japan.

“With TX, the UK’s capital, London, naturally remains our biggest market and while the taxi trade has suffered during the pandemic, as restrictions ease we are already starting to see the signs of market recovery– not only in London but across the UK and Europe.

“Demand from UK fleets and, in particular, SMEs is strong. For all customers, VN5 redefines the e-van; its eCity technology means no range anxiety, offering true zero-emissions transport with none of the downsides. Factor in low-cost, future-proofed operating, maximised productivity, vehicle lifespan, plus the freedom to travel to any location and it’s easy to see why VN5 is so attractive.

“Our key European markets remain an enormous opportunity for our electric van, with circa 600,000 light vans sold annually, nearly all of which are currently diesel or petrol: a segment set to double in the next five years.

“We are perhaps facing the biggest revolution in the automotive industry for over 130 years and with VN5 now launched in markets across Europe, I am confident that we can capitalise on massive opportunity for our business.”

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