LEVC (London Electric Vehicle Company) has appointed Inter Vehicle Group (IVG) as the first official full sales and aftersales dealer in Wales.
The dealership, located in Cardiff, will supply the region with LEVC’s TX electric taxis and new electric van, VN5.
Key points:
- LEVC appoints Inter Vehicle Group (IVG) as first full dealer in Wales
- IVG will supply the region with both TX and VN5
- New commercial space in Cardiff sees creation of LEVC hub
- LEVC to ensure UK network allows for no more than 45 min drive to nearest site
LEVC CEO, Joerg Hofmann says: “We are pleased to welcome Inter Vehicle Group to our growing network of dealers in the UK and Europe. IVG will introduce the portfolio of LEVC electric vehicle products to Wales for the first time, responding to the growing demand from local authorities and businesses looking to switch to greener mobility operations.”
Inter Vehicle Group has created 15 new jobs to facilities operations in Cardiff, thanks to a £150,000 investment in specialist equipment and training.
This will also result in IVG taking on a new 27,000 sq ft commercial space in Cardiff Bay to operate the rapidly growing Inter Hire part of the business, which converts its existing Penarth Road facility into an LEVC hub.
Jarrad Morris, Group Managing Director of Inter Vehicle Group said: “Our aim is to be pioneers in Wales within the EV sector and to lead the way on what is possible. Our agreement with LEVC is designed to ensure the taxi industry, businesses and local authorities in Wales have the latest electric vehicles available to them as an option and is a clear signal of how we as a company are responding to last year’s Welsh Government Climate Emergency declaration.
“The LEVC franchise on Penarth Road will be a centre of excellence and offer the taxi trade in particular a chance to get ahead of the curve in regard to transitioning to a leading, green, sustainable vehicle option. This is particularly important as the Welsh Government and Local Authorities across Wales begin to support the taxi industry in moving away from traditional diesel-based vehicles.”
The electric TX offers space, comfort and practicality, combined with environmental friendliness and a small turning circle, a trademark of the iconic London ‘black cab’ – ideal credentials for city transportation. With seating for six passengers and wheelchair accessibility, all travellers enjoy standard features such as air conditioning, charging facilities for smartphones and laptops and the TX’s generous panoramic roof. A purpose-built partition screen separates the driver and passenger compartments and, with contactless payment in the rear, easy to clean surfaces and an intercom system that allows driver and passenger to always communicate clearly, travellers are kept as safe and protected as possible.
Utilising LEVC’s eCity technology, TX offers 63 miles (101km) of zero emissions driving and a total electrically driven range of over 300 miles (484 km). Drivers can save more than £110 a week on fuel costs and more than 36,000 tonnes of CO2 have been saved from entering the atmosphere, based on 4,500 TX’s operating over one year.
LEVC’s new electric van, VN5, is now available to order in the UK, with production starting next month at LEVC’s state-of-the-art factory in Ansty, Coventry.
Operating in the one-tonne sector, VN5 shares the same bold, distinctive design and lightweight aluminium construction as TX, as well as its innovative eCity drivetrain technology. This gives a zero emissions capable range of 61 miles (98km)and a total flexible range of over 300 miles (484 km), and with up to 5.5m3 capacity, VN5 cargo capacity easily accommodates two Euro sized pallets with a gross payload of 830kg.
TX and VN5 will be sold through LEVC’s growing international dealer network, with more than 50 locations in the UK alone by the end of this year, to ensure that customers are never further than a 45-minute drive time to an authorised LEVC service point.
About LEVC
Since 2014, Geely has invested more than £500m into the London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC), allowing it to build an entirely new manufacturing facility in Ansty, Coventry. LEVC manufactures the world’s only purpose-built, range extended electric TX taxi and shuttle at its state-of-the-art factory and its new electric van, VN5, starts production in Q4 2020.
Having already established a new central European sales office in Frankfurt to increase LEVC’s presence across Europe, new markets in 2020 such as Middle East, New Zealand and Australia will continue to increase the company’s export footprint. This strategy will see LEVC move from 90 percent domestic sales and 10 percent export to 60 percent export by 2022.
