Black cab manufacturer Manganese Bronze has found an engineering solution to the steering fault for the most modern version of the iconic London taxi.
Still in administration, it has secured supply chain availability and logistics to begin a rapid replacement of the affected parts in the 400 strong recalled fleet . The new steering boxes were purchased from a UK supplier.
Administrators PwC confirmed that the recall will begin this weekend and be completed by 14 December, at what is often a busy time of the year for London’s taxi drivers.
“I fully appreciate the difficulties that the recall has created for individual taxi drivers, fleet operators, dealers and availability of taxis in the London black cab market,” said Matthew Hammond, joint administrator and PwC partner.
“I hope that within a matter of weeks we will have addressed the main difficulties faced by drivers and the under-supply of vehicles to the London black cab market.”
With the future of the company still uncertain, the Coventry-based manufacturer will be providing The Mayor and Transport for London with updates until work is completed.
It will also begin sending out new replacement parts to the 500-strong fleet of new vehicles currently suspended from use.
Once the new components have been fitted the new unregistered vehicles can be considered for release into the market in early 2013.
The company sacked more than half its workforce on 31 October, making 156 of its 274 staff redundant with immediate effect.
