Makers of over half of the 14,700 fleet of black cabs in Britain’s capital, London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC), has started production of its L380 Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV).

It is the first of a new range of fully electric models which will see the brand shifting its focus from solely being a taxi manufacturer, to one of the main players in electric mobility.

Named L380 as a nod to the world’s largest airliner, the Airbus A380, the eight-seat MPV will initially go on sale in China, where it is now in production, but will come to the UK by 2026. The Chinese facility works in tandem with its factory in Ansty, Coventry.

This news follows the recent launch of Space Oriented Architecture (SOA), a state-of-the-art EV platform co-developed with the Geely Holding Group - owner of LEVC and brands including Volvo, Lotus and Polestar. The L380 is the first model being produced using this technology and it is hoped that the platform will help in broadening LEVC’s vehicle lineup with models having better range (up to 431 miles), efficiency, safety, charging time, durability and connectivity.

When released in China, the L380 will be going up against the similarly shaped Volvo EM90 in the premium MPV market.

words: Mike Booth
pictures: London Electric Vehicle Company