Sales soar as Eco City moves to front of the taxi rank

Eco City Vehicles, the supplier of the Mercedes Vito London taxi, took advantage of the fall into administration of its rival, Manganese Bronze, last year with sales of Vitos jumping from 331 vehicles to 561. It now claims four out of every 10 new cab sales in the capital.

However, Eco City also provides parts and after-service for Manganese vehicles, and overall revenue growth in the full year to December 2012 was held back to 38 per cent at £30.5m as Manganese limped on to the hard shoulder. Losses were cut sharply from £2.2m to £187,000.

The group is looking at supplying other types of vehicle to "complementary niche markets".