Former British manufacturer of London-style taxicabs and successor to Coventry coachbuilder Carbodies.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
LTI, short for London Taxis International, was the trading identity of a Coventry-based British vehicle manufacturer best known for producing London-style taxicabs. Its industrial origins reached back to 1919, when Robert “Bobby” Jones established a coachbuilding business after taking over operations associated with Gooderhams and Thomas Pass in Coventry. The company became known as Carbodies and initially supplied standardized bodies to vehicle manufacturers that lacked their own coachbuilding capacity. During the 1920s and 1930s it worked for marques including MG, Alvis, Rover, Invicta, Railton and the Rootes Group. It also manufactured military vehicle bodies and aircraft components during the Second World War. After 1945, Carbodies increasingly concentrated on taxi and specialist vehicle work. It collaborated with Austin and London taxi dealer Mann & Overton on the Austin FX3, producing more than 7,000 examples over roughly a decade. The company also converted several saloons into drophead convertibles and estate cars and undertook body and tooling work for manufacturers such as Daimler, Jaguar, Triumph, Ford and others. In 1954 Carbodies was acquired by the BSA Group and placed under the control of Daimler. In 1958 it began producing the body and carrying out assembly, finishing and delivery of the Austin FX4, the model that became the defining product in its history. Carbodies acquired the FX4 chassis assembly operation from British Leyland in 1971, allowing it to manufacture complete taxis in Coventry. The company became part of Manganese Bronze Holdings when that group acquired BSA in 1973. Attempts to diversify included the proposed FX5 taxi, the CR6 project based on a Range Rover body shell, and various conversion and commercial-vehicle programs, but most of these initiatives were abandoned or remained limited. By the 1980s, the FX4 had become the company's central and effectively sole product. After British Leyland withdrew from the model, Carbodies assumed responsibility for its complete manufacture and developed it into the LTI Fairway. In 1992 the business adopted the London Taxis International name and operated through divisions covering vehicle production, taxi retailing and finance. Its successor taxi, the TX1, launched in 1997, followed by the TXII in 2002 and the TX4 in 2007. These vehicles retained the recognizable London-taxi format while incorporating updated drivetrains, improved accessibility and modern safety and passenger equipment. The TXII included a Ford 2.4-litre diesel engine, a wheelchair ramp, an intermediate step, a swivel-out seat and an induction loop for passengers with hearing difficulties. The TX4 expanded LTI's reach as a supplier of London-type taxis beyond the United Kingdom. The company changed its name to The London Taxi Company in October 2010. Around the same period it formed a partnership with Geely to manufacture taxis in Shanghai for export and to supply components to the Coventry operation. Financial and operational difficulties later intensified. In October 2012, vehicle sales were suspended after a serious steering-component defect was identified, and the company entered voluntary administration after failing to secure further financing. In February 2013, Geely acquired selected assets from the administrator. The business continued under The London Taxi Company name before becoming the London EV Company in 2017. LTI therefore no longer operates as an independent brand, but its engineering and manufacturing legacy continues through the modern electric London-taxi business.
History
LTI's history is rooted in Carbodies, a Coventry coachbuilder founded in 1919 by Robert “Bobby” Jones. The company began by producing standardized bodies for vehicle manufacturers that did not maintain extensive in-house coachbuilding facilities. Its early customers included MG and Alvis, while later pre-war contracts involved Rover, Invicta, Railton and the Rootes Group. In the Second World War, the business produced bodies for military vehicles and aircraft components after acquiring press equipment through the Lend-Lease program. The post-war period brought a decisive move into taxi manufacturing. Carbodies worked with Austin and London taxi dealer Mann & Overton on the Austin FX3, producing thousands of examples for the London market. It also developed conversion techniques for turning conventional saloons into convertibles and carried out specialist body work for Austin, Ford and Daimler. In 1954 the company was acquired by the BSA Group and placed under Daimler's control. Four years later, it began building bodies and assembling the Austin FX4. The FX4 gradually displaced Carbodies' other activities and became the company's central product. In 1971 Carbodies acquired the FX4 chassis assembly line from British Leyland and moved it to Coventry, taking responsibility for complete taxi manufacture. The company joined Manganese Bronze Holdings in 1973 when that group acquired BSA. Although Carbodies pursued replacement and diversification projects, including the FX5 and CR6 taxis and several automotive conversion programs, these efforts did not displace the FX4. During the 1980s, after British Leyland lost interest in the model, Carbodies assumed complete responsibility for its production and updated it as the LTI Fairway. The company was reorganized and renamed London Taxis International in 1992. Its business included taxi manufacture, the Mann & Overton retail operation and London Taxi Finance. The TX1 was introduced in 1997 as the successor to the FX4, followed by the TXII in 2002 and the TX4 in 2007. These models retained the established London-taxi architecture while adding updated engines, wheelchair access equipment and passenger aids. The TX4 in particular helped establish the company as an international supplier of London-style taxis. In October 2010 the company changed its trading identity to The London Taxi Company. It also entered a manufacturing partnership with Geely, which had already obtained a minority interest through Manganese Bronze. The partnership established a Shanghai production facility intended to serve export markets and support the Coventry plant. Despite this international strategy, the business encountered serious financial and operational problems. A steering-component defect led to a suspension of sales in 2012. The company could not obtain additional financing and entered voluntary administration in October of that year. Geely acquired selected assets from the administrator in February 2013. The successor continued trading as The London Taxi Company before adopting the London EV Company name in 2017. LTI is consequently a defunct corporate identity, but its Coventry manufacturing base, taxi designs and specialist-vehicle expertise formed the foundation for the later electric London-taxi business.
- 2017
Successor becomes London EV Company
[1]The successor business adopted the London EV Company name and developed electric commercial vehicles.
- 2013
Geely acquires selected assets
[1]Geely purchased selected assets from the administrator and continued the business under The London Taxi Company name.
- 2012
Voluntary administration
[1]Following a steering-component problem, suspended sales and unsuccessful financing efforts, the company entered voluntary administration.
- 2010
Rebranding and Geely partnership
[1]London Taxis International became The London Taxi Company and partnered with Geely on Shanghai manufacturing.
- 2007
TX4 launches
[1]The TX4 replaced the TXII and supported LTI's expansion as an international supplier of London-style taxis.
- 2002
TXII launches
[1]The TXII introduced a Ford 2.4-litre diesel engine and additional accessibility and passenger-support features.
- 1997
TX1 launches
[1]The TX1 entered production as the successor to the long-running FX4 family.
- 1992
The business adopts the LTI identity
[1]Carbodies was reorganized and rebranded as London Taxis International, with manufacturing, retail and finance divisions.
- 1973
Manganese Bronze ownership begins
[1]Carbodies became part of Manganese Bronze Holdings through that group's acquisition of BSA.
- 1971
Complete FX4 manufacturing moves to Carbodies
[1]The company acquired and relocated British Leyland's FX4 chassis assembly operation, becoming a complete taxi manufacturer.
Products and positioning
A specialist British vehicle manufacturer centered on purpose-built, accessible and highly recognizable London taxicabs, with additional historical expertise in coachbuilding, vehicle conversions and low-volume automotive manufacturing.
Taxicab · 1948
Austin FX3
The FX3 was one of Carbodies' first major post-war taxi programs. Developed with Austin and London taxi dealer Mann & Overton, it combined a purpose-designed taxi body with the operating requirements of the London market. More than 7,000 were produced over approximately ten years, mainly for London service, establishing Carbodies as a significant specialist taxi manufacturer.
Taxicab · 1958
Austin FX4
The FX4 became the central product in Carbodies' history and one of the most recognizable London taxi designs. Carbodies began body production and assembly in 1958, later acquiring the complete chassis assembly operation from British Leyland. After British Leyland withdrew from the model, Carbodies took full manufacturing responsibility and continued its development as the LTI Fairway.
Taxicab
LTI Fairway
The Fairway was an updated continuation of the FX4 after Carbodies became responsible for the model's complete manufacture. It represented the company's effort to modernize its established London-taxi platform while retaining the familiar format required by the London market. The model helped bridge the company from the FX4 era to its TX-generation taxis.
Taxicab · 1997
TX1
The TX1 was introduced as the successor to the FX4 family and marked a new generation of LTI purpose-built taxis. It retained the recognizable London-taxi concept while updating the vehicle's body and engineering for contemporary service. The model was developed during the period when the business operated as London Taxis International.
Taxicab · 2002
TXII
The TXII was launched in 2002 with a Ford DuraTorg 2.4-litre diesel engine. Its equipment included an integral fold-down wheelchair ramp, an intermediate step and a swivel-out seat intended to assist passengers with mobility limitations. It also incorporated an induction loop into the intercom system for passengers with hearing difficulties, reinforcing LTI's accessibility-focused positioning.
Taxicab · 2007
TX4
The TX4 replaced the TXII in 2007 and became LTI's principal late-generation taxi. It maintained the London-type taxi configuration while offering a contemporary platform for domestic and export use. The model helped establish LTI Vehicles as a worldwide supplier of London-style taxis before the company changed its identity to The London Taxi Company.
Controversies
2012
Steering-component defect and administration
The company suspended vehicle sales after discovering a serious defect in recently specified steering components sourced from Gang Yang, a supplier connected to Geely's supply chain. LTI subsequently failed to secure new financing and entered voluntary administration in October 2012.
Brand decisions
2012
Enter voluntary administrationOtherBackground
Sales had been suspended following a serious steering-component defect, and the company was unable to obtain additional financing.
Action taken
The company entered voluntary administration in October 2012.
Aftermath
Geely acquired selected assets in February 2013 and continued the business under The London Taxi Company before the later transition to London EV Company.
2010
Partner with Geely on international productionStrategyBackground
LTI sought to expand beyond its established Coventry production base and serve international demand for London-style taxis.
Action taken
The company formed a joint venture with Geely to build a Shanghai factory for export taxis and to supply components to Coventry.
Aftermath
The partnership provided a route to international manufacturing, but the business later encountered a steering-component problem and entered administration in 2012.
1992
Adopt the London Taxis International identityStrategyBackground
The company had become increasingly focused on taxi manufacturing, sales and related finance after decades of broader coachbuilding and conversion work.
Action taken
Carbodies was reorganized as London Taxis International, with separate manufacturing, retail and finance divisions.
Aftermath
The new identity emphasized the company's specialization in London taxi production and supported the subsequent TX model range.
Recent events
Reported
LTI partners with Securonix and Snowflake on cybersecurity offerings[2]
Larsen & Toubro Infotech (LTI) partnered with Securonix and Snowflake to strengthen its cybersecurity offerings, including its Active XDR platform.
LTI receives EPA SmartWay Excellence Award[3]
LTI Inc. and its Milky Way division received the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Excellence Award. The article reports that this was LTI’s sixth consecutive award.
Reported
LTI wins PTC Partner Network Award[4]
Larsen & Toubro Infotech (LTI) was named the winner of the PTC Partner Network Award in the Transformation in Manufacturing Operations category and was a finalist in two additional categories.
Reported
LTI agrees to acquire Cuelogic Technologies[5]
Larsen & Toubro Infotech (LTI) signed a definitive agreement to acquire Cuelogic Technologies for $8.4 million, subject to customary closing conditions.
Reported
LTI launches Operational Technology Management solution[6]
Larsen & Toubro Infotech (LTI) launched a ServiceNow-based Operational Technology Management solution for the manufacturing industry, developed in partnership with ServiceNow.
Reported
LTI and Injazat enter strategic partnership[7]
LTI entered into a strategic partnership with Injazat to implement a new best-shore service delivery model for digital transformation services in the region.
Reported
LTI launches Canvas software development platform[8]
Larsen & Toubro Infotech (LTI) launched LTI Canvas, a software development platform designed to support work across different locations.
Reported
LTI introduces SafeRadius[9]
Larsen & Toubro Infotech introduced LTI SafeRadius, a return-to-work app for workforce well-being and operational efficiency.
Reported
LTI expands strategic partnership with OKQ8[10]
LTI expanded its partnership with OKQ8. Over the next five years, the engagement will provide infrastructure, security, application operations, maintenance and development services to transform OKQ8’s applications and infrastructure landscape.
Sources13 sources
- 1Carbodiesen.wikipedia.org
- 2LTI与Securonix和Snowflake合作拓展网络安全服务business-standard.com
- 3LTI获得美国环保署SmartWay卓越奖petroleumnews.com
- 4LTI获得PTC合作伙伴网络奖aninews.in
- 5LTI同意收购Cuelogic Technologiesbusiness-standard.com
- 6LTI推出运营技术管理解决方案aninews.in
- 7LTI与Injazat建立战略合作伙伴关系prnewswire.com
- 8LTI推出Canvas软件开发平台finanznachrichten.de
- 9LTI推出SafeRadius应用equitybulls.com
- 10LTI扩大与OKQ8的战略合作finanznachrichten.de
- 11LTI Launches Canvas PolarSled Enabling Rapid Migration to Snowflakeequitybulls.com
- 12LTI Partners with Abu Dhabi Headquartered Injazat to Accelerate Digital Transformation - ELE Timeseletimes.ai
- 13LTI收购数字工程公司Cuelogicprnasia.com
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