TfL data reveals Toyota and Kia dominating London’s private hire vehicle fleet
- Perry Richardson
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
Toyota remains the dominant manufacturer within London’s private hire vehicle fleet, accounting for more than 23,000 licensed vehicles, according to Transport for London fleet data generated on 26 January 2026.
The figures show 23,262 Toyota vehicles currently licensed as private hire vehicles in the capital, placing the Japanese manufacturer comfortably ahead of competitors. Kia ranks second with 15,285 vehicles, followed by Mercedes-Benz on 10,211 and Volkswagen on 8,076. Hyundai, Tesla, BMW, MG, Mitsubishi and Ford complete the top ten manufacturers by volume.
The concentration at the top reflects a continued shift towards hybrid and battery electric models that meet the capital’s Ultra Low Emission Zone requirements and align with TfL’s zero-emission capable licensing rules for new PHVs.
At model level, the Toyota Prius remains the single most widely used private hire vehicle in London, with 8,047 licensed units. The long-standing hybrid saloon has retained its appeal among owner-drivers and fleet operators due to fuel efficiency, reliability and residual values.
Latest TfL fleet data shows hybrid and electric models tightening their grip on the capital’s PHV market
Kia’s Niro 2 EV is the second most common model overall with 2,442 vehicles licensed, highlighting the rapid growth of fully electric cars within the sector. Tesla’s Model 3 follows with 2,210 vehicles, while the Hyundai Ioniq records 2,159 licensed units. Toyota’s all-electric bZ4X has already reached 2,061 vehicles in service, underlining the manufacturer’s transition from hybrid dominance into the battery electric segment.
Other high-volume models include the Kia Niro hybrid variant with 1,861 vehicles, the Toyota Auris with 1,666, the Volkswagen Sharan on 1,653 and the Mitsubishi Outlander with 1,498. The Toyota Prius Active VVT-i CVT variant alone accounts for a further 1,305 vehicles, demonstrating the depth of Toyota’s footprint across different trims.
High fleet penetration typically supports stronger residual values and established servicing networks, factors that remain critical in a high-mileage environment such as London’s private hire sector.
The prominence of electric models, particularly from Kia, Tesla and Hyundai, also reflects evolving fleet economics. While upfront costs remain higher than comparable hybrid vehicles, lower fuel and servicing costs are increasingly influencing procurement decisions, especially for high-utilisation drivers operating on app-based platforms.
The January 2026 snapshot indicates that London’s private hire fleet is consolidating around a relatively small group of high-volume, low-emission models, with Toyota maintaining its long-standing lead but facing growing competition from pure electric alternatives.
