Taxi manufacturer Cab Direct has completed the latest phase of development at its main manufacturing plant. 

Opened at the beginning of April the new factory adds 98,000 square feet of vehicle production space to Cab Direct’s existing 12-acre site. 40 new vehicle assembly jobs are also being created, bringing the total workforce to more than 350 people. 

Purpose-Built

The new factory now houses production for some of Cab Direct’s most popular taxi products, including the purpose-built Peugeot E7 and Mercedes-Benz M8 taxis. Other models include flexible people carriers like the Peugeot Eurobus and Volkswagen Odyssey, together with low-cost wheelchair accessible vehicles like the Ford Journey and Fiat Freedom.  The company also produces a wide range of minibus taxis.

The additional factory space has been created next to Cab Direct’s existing premises where pre-fabrication operations, paint workshops, distribution and engineering development are also being extended.

Cab Direct managing director, Paul Nelson, explained the reasons behind this latest expansion:  “Over the past year orders have grown steadily and it became clear that we would soon need more space to cope with demand.

Increase

“It’s certainly the best kind of problem to have but it was crucial that we find a way to increase production capacity,” continued Paul.

“Being able to expand next to our existing site, rather than have to move elsewhere, was ideal.  We‘ve been able to retain all of our existing workforce, as well as building on the skills of experienced staff as we recruit new assembly workers.”

Paul concluded: “All of this is of course great news for British manufacturing as well as for Cab Direct and it’s wonderful to see a steady flow of new recruits going through our intensive training programme.”