The LEVC TX taxi plays key role in Britain’s high-value car export success reveals SMMT report
- Perry Richardson
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
The iconic LEVC TX electric taxi has been recognised as a major contributor to the UK’s thriving luxury and niche car manufacturing sector, which exports nearly £5 billion in high-value vehicles each year. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has highlighted the TX among other high-end products in its latest report on Britain’s small volume automotive manufacturers.
The study, titled The UK’s Small Volume Automotive Manufacturers: An Enduring British Success Story, points to the economic strength of a sector turning over more than £5.5 billion annually. These manufacturers produce everything from hypercars and luxury SUVs to electric saloons and taxis, including the London TX built by LEVC.
Though the TX operates primarily as a taxi, it is grouped alongside prestigious brands such as Aston Martin, McLaren and Bentley. Its inclusion demonstrates the growing recognition of the electric taxi as a premium, exportable product backed by British engineering.
The sector, responsible for 4% of the UK’s car production, contributes 12% of the value, reflecting the high market worth of each vehicle. Nearly 90% of all small volume vehicles built in the UK are exported, with the LEVC TX helping strengthen the country’s automotive reputation abroad.
Over 15,000 people are directly employed in the sector, with an average salary above the national average, and a further 60,000 jobs supported through domestic supply chains. Investment in innovation remains strong, with £3.5 billion injected into research and development since 2020, including in areas such as lightweight materials and hybrid technologies.
Despite this, the industry faces rising costs, global market instability and decarbonisation pressures. The SMMT is urging the UK Government to adopt a supportive regulatory approach, taking into account the specific production challenges faced by low-volume manufacturers.
Government officials, including Industry Minister Sarah Jones MP, have pointed to recent trade deals and plans for long-term industrial growth. However, manufacturers are calling for these strategies to explicitly support niche builders like LEVC, whose TX continues to lead in sustainable urban mobility.
