The London Taxi Company (LTC) which produces the iconic London black cab has announced that Carl-Peter Forster has been appointed as chairman of its board.
Forster is a senior advisor to the firm’s parent company, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, and has been a member of the board of both Volvo Cars Corporation and Geely Automobile Holdings since 2013.
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Zhejiang Geely Holding Group acquired the London Taxi Company in 2013 and restarted production shortly afterwards. LTC said that Forster will work with management to guide the company’s strategic direction and will “oversee ground breaking new product developments in the coming years”.
Forster is an automotive industry veteran with senior leadership experience amassed at OEMs including BMW, Tata and General Motors. He is also a well known anglophile who resides in the UK.
Peter Johansen, LTC’s Vice President of UK Operations, said: “The appointment of someone with his track record is a big boost for our business and testament to the commitment Geely are placing in the company since they acquired us in 2013.”
Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Chairman, Mr. Li Shufu commented: “We are very confident in Carl-Peter’s ability to lead the London Taxi Company and we warmly welcome him as we work to develop current and future products. Carl-Peter has already made a significant impact on the business through his work on various Geely Group projects but this appointment will strengthen our ability to drive through further improvements in customer satisfaction and product quality. He will also play an important role in our plans to develop a range of pure electric and ultra-low emission London taxis.”
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By GlobalDataCarl-Peter Forster said: “The black cab is a British icon, with a global reach. Under Geely ownership the London Taxi Company has the potential for a bright future. The company is transitioning into a new era of innovative products for the taxi trade and commercial operators across the UK and the world. I’m looking forward to working with the management team as we move forward and develop this world famous brand and concept.”
Under previous ownership, Manganese Bronze, the black cab maker racked up large losses and went into administration in 2012. Geely picked up the assets from the administrators.
