Early this year, the car manufacturer Nissan unveiled its new Taxi for London, having adapted an existing van to look more like the city's traditional black cabs.
Self-study activity:
Watch the video and answer the questions about it.
The activity is suitable for intermediate students.
1 Where are London's cabs made?
2 What's the name of the Spanish-built van Nissan has redesigned?
3 How many potential sales were lost after the fiasco of the New York taxi?
4 What three elements does Nissan's GB Managing Director mention that the new model of London taxi brings?
5 What two adjectives describe the taxi drivers' reaction at being consulted over the design?
6 How many sales of the new London taxi are expected?
To check your answers you can read the transcript below.
London's iconic black cab as familiar a sight for visitors as the capital’s red buses, Parliament or Big Ben. London’s licensed cabs are made at this factory in Coventry, now owned by China's Geely with another approved models imported by Mercedes-Benz.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Nissan’s new taxi for London.
But now Nissan, with a good track record in taxi engine-making, is going the whole hog, unveiling the new Spanish-built version of it NV200 van, which has been redesigned in London for the London market.
Nissan is desperate for strong sales from this vehicle to offset its disappointment, often near-collapse
of a 50-million dollar plan to become the exclusive new taxi for New York. It's not just the loss of a potential 25,000 sales but many missed marketing opportunities.
This decision was disappointing but we still believe that the taxis that we have now launched in New York will be a success because it meets taxi the drivers and customers’ needs. It will stand on its own rather than being exclusive bus defamed by a contract. I think in London, we, we honestly believe that we're bringing something new to the market. We’re bringing something new to the market in terms of what for taxi drivers need, in terms of comfort, but also service.
An all-electric version follows next year. Meanwhile, London's cabbies were pleased to be consulted over the design but surprised the multinational car maker was even interested in such a niche market.
We were absolutely stunned when first approached by a company along the scale of Nissan. They wanted to design and build our London taxi. Their motives are still a mystery to me but nonetheless we're very pleased that they've done it, a mass-produced a reliable vehicle coming onto the streets in London at a competitive price we’re told it’s something that we welcome.
While Nissan is nothing but ambitious with the NV200. It hopes to sell 140,000 of these cabs annually. That's as many as London cabs have ever been on the road. Hopes to have an electric version by next year.
Nigel Cassidy, BBC News for the new Nissan taxi cab.
