London cab company moves upmarket with all-electric MPV

The company behind the current generation of electrified Black Cab has announced plans for a luxurious all-electric people carrier.

LEVC, which produces the TX taxi and VN5 van, says that with the introduction of the L380, it will transform from a “high-end taxi manufacturer to a leading provider of pure electric global mobility solutions”. 

It claims the L380 will set new standards for “occupant-focused” space and raise the bar for interior flexibility. The purpose-built MPV will be sold in six- or eight-seat versions with multiple seat configurations and a focus on accessibility and comfort. 

The high-end MPV will be the first in a range of electric models built by LEVC and based on the Space Oriented Architecture (SOA) developed by Geely, which also owns Volvo, Lotus and Zeekr. 

Unlike the TX, which uses a range extender petrol motor to keep its electric powertrain charged, the L380 will be a purely electric affair, using the new platform to offer “advances in range, efficiency, safety and charging time”.

No technical details have been announced, but the SOA platform is already used in the Chinese-market Volvo EM90 and Zeekr 009 MPVs, so it’s likely to offer a similar powertrain. The Volvo uses a single 268bhp motor and a 116kWh battery which offers up to 458 miles of range, while the Zeekr can be had with a 537bhp twin-motor powertrain using the same battery. 

The L380 will go on sale in China in 2024, with other markets around the world set to follow from 2025. There’s no official word on whether it will make it to the UK. 

Alex Nan, CEO of LEVC, commented: “Building on our unrivalled heritage in producing the iconic London black cab, we have adapted our business to meet the rapidly accelerating demand for spacious, flexible electric vehicles.

“Setting new standards for occupant-focused interior space, L380 raises the bar for large luxury fully electric MPVs, setting us on an exciting new path, bringing advanced zero-emission transportation to more customers than ever before.”

Unlike the TX, which uses a range extender petrol motor to keep its electric powertrain charged, the L380 will be a purely electric model