The iconic London Taxi is being reborn with the TX5, and a $400 Million Investment Program to expand the product.

London's iconic black cabs aren't waiting for the U.K.'s vote on European Union membership, seeking their own Brexit by pitching an electric version for Paris and other major European cities.

London Taxi Co., a U.K. subsidiary of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., 

showed the TX5 prototype in Paris last Thursday.

The car is powered by electric motors with an on-board gasoline-fueled generator for extra range. The goal is to offer the vehicle to cabbies in the French capital by 2018 and then expand to cities such as Barcelona, Oslo, Amsterdam and Berlin.

London Taxi is counting on its cab's spacious passenger seating and extended range to find buyers on the continent amid uncertainty over the U.K.'s future if the country votes to leave the European Union later this month.

The traditionally styled cab is designed for urban centers, where air quality is a growing problem. Paris is set to ban vehicles more than 20 years old starting next month.

"Most of the major cities in Europe have an air-pollution problem," said Peter Johansen, head of the taxi manufacturer that was bought by China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. in 2013. The limited range of existing models "is what has stopped until now the adoption of electric vehicles as the mainstay of taxis."

App competitors

London cabs aren't the only ones going green. France's leading taxi company, Taxis G7, and Uber Technologies Inc. allow French users to order electric and hybrid vehicles on their apps. Since December, tourists also can visit Paris aboard a retrofitted vintage Citroen 2CV car with an all-electric engine.

The rollout of the TX5 is part of a $400 million program that includes a new factory near Coventry, England. In addition to targeting traditional cabbies, London Taxi also plans to offer the car to ride-sharing apps such as Uber and its competitors.

London Taxi said the cost of owning the vehicle will make it attractive but declined to provide details about price or range.

"We are offering a global product that will be a global beater," said Johansen, who says the car can reach European markets even with a Brexit. The country is "so much part of Europe now

REPORT HERE

Renault signs up with European Union’s 28 Transport Ministers supporting a legislation for autonomous vehicles.

• Renault in initiative with European Union’s 28 Transport Ministers supporting a legislative framework for the promotion of autonomous vehicles
• Renault reveals its Espace-based demonstration vehicle – the Renault Espace Autonomous Drive demonstrator

Renault today participated in a unique opportunity to showcase emerging autonomous drive technologies to a select group of European policy makers. The European Union’s 28 Transport Ministers gathered in Amsterdam to sign the Amsterdam Declaration in favour of autonomous vehicles.

As part of its leading role in the New Face of Industry in France programme, and in association with its partners, legislative bodies and other manufacturers, Renault is playing an active part in helping to shape existing road traffic legislation in order to promote the safe use of autonomous vehicles, as well as the competitiveness of European vehicle makers in this new technology area.

Rémi Bastien, Head of Prospective Autonomous Driving, Renault-Nissan Alliance said: “Today marks a new chapter in the potential for autonomous driving vehicles on the road. Renault is pleased to be working closely with industry partners, competitors and legislators to help ensure a safe and stressless future on the road.”

Renault Reveals Autonomous Drive Demonstrators

Renault revealed three ‘Renault Espace Autonomous Drive demonstrators’ which have already been trialled for several hundred hours in ordinary traffic across Europe. These new examples of what’s possible help illustrate Renault’s vision, which was showcased on the Next Two prototype in 2014.

Autonomous driving for all

Renault is committed to introducing autonomous driving vehicles by 2020, with the ambition to become the first to offer ‘eyes-off/hands-off’ technology on mainstream vehicles at an affordable price. This technology has a goal of making the road safer, more enjoyable and maximising time for drivers while driving. 

For more than 50 years, Renault has worked actively to improve road safety. More than 90 percent of accidents can be explained by human error and Renault’s Advanced Drivers Assistance systems aim to reduce the number of accidents by assisting motorists. The progress made by Renault in this field has seen the number of serious or fatal accidents involving its cars in France come down by 80 percent over a period of 15 years. Autonomous driving is an extension of this ongoing commitment to continue to extend efforts on safety.

By delegating driving during the most tedious phases of journeys, such as when traveling on motorways or in congested traffic, autonomous systems make motoring less stressful and more enjoyable without detracting from the pleasure of driving, while giving drivers the ultimate choice.

Beyond 2020, drivers will gradually be able optimise their time in order to take advantage of in-car connectivity in total safety when conditions permit and in total compliance with legislation.

Nissan has released a statement on it's position with regards to teh EU Referendum and whether teh UK will remain in or out.

Nissan today released a statement regarding its position on the UK's forthcoming EU referendum.

The global car manufacturer - which employs 8,000 people in the UK across its manufacturing, engineering and design facilities, and a further 32,000 indirectly through dealerships and its supply chain - said that while this was ultimately a matter for the British people to decide, the company believed it made the most sense for jobs, trade and costs for the UK to stay within Europe.

While the company will not be pro-actively supporting any political campaign in the run up to the EU referendum, Nissan Chairman and CEO Mr. Carlos Ghosn said:

"We are a global business with a strong presence in Europe. We have a rich heritage in the UK with 30 years of manufacturing and engineering presence, and remain committed to building and engineering cars in the country.  Last year we produced more than 475,000 vehicles in the UK – 80 percent of which are exported.

"Our preference as a business is, of course, that the UK stays within Europe - it makes the most sense for jobs, trade and costs. For us, a position of stability is more positive than a collection of unknowns.

"However, this is ultimately a matter for the British people to decide.

"While we remain committed to our existing investment decisions, we will not speculate on the outcome nor what would happen in either scenario."

He added: "We obviously want the Nissan UK plant and engineering centre to remain as competitive as possible when compared with other global entities, and each future investment opportunity will be taken on a case by case basis, just as it is now."

Calais crisis is now starting to hurt the Scottish Export business - This must be dealt with NOW.

The continued chaos in Calais is impacting Scottish exports and the French Government must take action on the migrant situation in the port as a matter of urgency - is the message from the FTA today.  

Responding to the Scottish Government’s call for ‘action’ to help alleviate the delays to exports  - the Freight Transport Association (FTA) reiterated that the situation is not just affecting the south east of England but that it is a much wider issue affecting industry nationwide. 

The combination of industrial action and migrant activity in and around the port of Calais has continued to cause chaos both in the UK and France, including the implementation of Operation Stack on the M20 in Kent causing delays for some truck drivers for hours  – some up to 20 hours at a time.

Scottish businesses from the fishing and food processing sectors have raised their concerns regarding the impact of delays and potential delays on their businesses.

Margaret Simpson, FTA’s Country Manager - Scotland said: “The situation in Calais is having a huge impact on the Scottish freight industry.  The delays on both sides of the Channel are causing financial and logistical implications for operators and it can’t be allowed to continue.  Every year we are subject to disruptions of some kind at the French ports and the migrant issue this year has simply compounded an ongoing problem.”

FTA has previously highlighted the detrimental effect on the national supply chain because of lengthy delays to cross the Channel, and warned of the cost to the economy as loads are being damaged by the extensive delays and those being rejected by customers because of contamination when migrants break on board of trucks.

Operation Stack is used to park HGVs on the M20 and can affect 35 miles of the motorway.  The system is normally used during cross-Channel disruption, and has been implemented on 26 occasions in the past six weeks causing subsequent chaos in Kent not only for freight operators, but also for residents, tourist traffic and local businesses.

With the Calais situation getting worse, here are some tips to avoid the queues, and no, not shoot the Idiots.

TMW THOUGHTS

I am sorry, but what the hell are the French doing, if this were any other country in the world, anyone trying to illegally gain access to another country by crossing the border without permission would be be arrested, sent back or shot, Now I am not saying that we should shoot them, but something has got to be done.

The vast sums of money involved in keeping the lorries backed up is now running into hundreds of millions of pounds, at £100 per hour per truck, it can soon build up.

Why are these illegal immigrants not being dealt with on the French side, surely they are illegal in France, so why are they not being taken into custody, processed and sent home, why, well, they French just don't care, they seem to think that if they can lose a few by them coming here, it's less for them to worry about, it seems like they are happy to let them come here, rather than deal with it.

Well NO, I care little if the French like us or not, these immigrants are breaking the law in France, FACT, the French are seemingly doing little to stop it, FACT, it is costing the UK haulage industry Millions every day, and not just us, what about those countries exporting to the UK, they are being hit too, it is about time that fines and compensation should be awarded to the British drivers and companies that are out of pocket.

But it is not just the drivers and associated companies, what about the high street businesses, the shops that can not get their stock, like fresh flowers, our local news had a report where shops were having to close because of a lack of stock and refunds having to be given due to no items to supply.

The French need to get of their baguette filled arses and do something about it, because believe me, if they don't, they will continue to invade the tunnel daily, until they either succeed, or there is a lot more deaths, neither will be acceptable.

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Information and links for anyone affected by travel disruption at Calais. This will be updated as the situation develops.

Border controls in France.

Calais situation: 30 July 2015

There is an ongoing possibility of disruption to cross-Channel services as a result of industrial action and migrant activity in and around Calais.

Check online with your chosen operator and plan your journey to avoid disruption

If you are in the UK and have a booking, check online with your operator for more information before you leave and consider making alternative arrangements if necessary.

If you are in returning to the UK from abroad and you have a booking, check online with your operator for more information. You may also wish to consider alternative routes for returning to the UK.

General travel advice

Cross-Channel passengers travelling from Dover/Folkestone to the Port of Calais are advised to check online with their chosen operator and plan their journey to avoid disruption. You may also want to follow local radio for travel updates.

Cross-Channel passengers planning to travel through Calais are advised to check online with their travel operator. Information about alternative routes and operators is available via this interactive map.

If you require emergency assistance, emergency services in France are contacted by dialling 112. If you require assistance from the British Embassy, please contact 00 33 (0)1 44 51 31 00.

Compensation and exchanging tickets

If you need to exchange travel tickets, contact your operator. For advice on compensation and your rights, visit the ABTA website.

Read guidance on EU Regulation 1177/2010, which establishes the rights of all maritime passengers to assistance in the case of delayed or cancelled departures.

Contacts for cross-Channel operators

Dover/Folkestone – Calais/Coquelles cross-Channel operators

DFDS Seaways also operates out of Amsterdam, Dieppe and Dunkirk:

• Twitter @DFDSUKUpdates
• telephone:
  • Calais, Dunkirk and Amsterdam +44 (0) 344 902 0265 and +44 (0) 871 882 1777 for sailing information
  • Dieppe +44 (0) 844 576 8836, INT 0800 650 100 and +44 (0) 844 576 8836 for sailing information

P&O Ferries also operates out of Rotterdam and Zeebrugge:

• Twitter @POferries for ferry updates
• telephone +44 (0) 800 13 0030

Eurotunnel operates from Coquelles:

• Twitter @LeShuttle
• telephone: +44 (0) 8444 63 0000 (24 hour pre-recorded travel information), +44 (0) 8443 35 35 35, +33 (0) 810 63 03 04

Other cross-Channel operators and routes

Details of alternative routes for returning to the UK. Check availability and book ahead before considering travelling to another port of exit.

Brittany Ferries operates out of Caen, Cherbourg, Le Havre, Roscoff, St Malo, Bilbao and Santander:

• Twitter @Brittanyferries
• telephone +44 (0) 1752 648 637

Condor Ferries operates out of St Malo and Cherbourg:

• Twitter @CF_Travel_News
• telephone +44 (0) 1202 207 216, St Malo +44 (0) 825 165 463, Cherbourg +33 (0) 233 88 44 88

Stena operates out of Hook of Holland:

• Twitter @StenalineUK
• telephone +44 (0) 8447 70 70 70

Additional contacts

• Port of Dover, Twitter @Port_of_Dover
• Foreign travel advice: France
• British embassy in Paris

Road traffic information

UK road traffic

• Highways England traffic information or on Twitter: @HighwaysSEAST

France road traffic

• autoroutes.fr
• Bison Fute

What the government is doing (SOD ALL -ATM)

We are working closely with the French government to seek an urgent return of normal services. We have also increased security and Border Force operations at the port.

We continue to closely monitor the situation and will update travel advice accordingly.

The government’s COBR emergency committee has met to discuss the situation in Calais and review implementation of our contingency plans.

Law and order in and around Calais is the responsibility of the French authorities, but the UK continues to work with its French counterparts to strengthen the security of the border to stop migrants entering the UK illegally.

Border Force put its well-rehearsed and practised contingency plans into operation to ensure security is maintained during this period of disruption to cross-Channel services and as they return to normal. 

We have deployed additional Border Force staff and sniffer dogs in northern France as well as bolstering screening checks at Dover for both tourist and freight vehicles. This is on top of already rigorous border controls, which include 100% freight screening at Coquelles and Calais.

The government:

• has agreed to additional funding of up to £7 million towards increasing security at the Channel Tunnel railhead at Coquelles
• is providing funding to bolster the security and infrastructure of ports in northern France and Belgium – this includes a £2 million upgrade of detection technology, a £1 million extension of dog searching capacity and an additional £12 million to reinforce security at the juxtaposed border
• has installed new fencing in Calais to enhance security at the port and help protect traffic on the road leading to it
• has announced there will be a new secure area for freight at Calais port
• is tackling the roots of this problem by increasing joint intelligence work with the French to target the organised crime gangs behind people smuggling
• has granted an exceptional temporary relaxation of the enforcement of EU drivers’ hours rules for drivers delayed due to Operation Stack in Kent

More than 39,000 attempts to cross the Channel illegally were prevented in 2014 to 2015 – more than double the previous year.