Fresh hope for Manganese Bronze after steering fault is resolved
THE fate of struggling black cab manufacturer Manganese Bronze may have eased after administrators acting for the firm announced they had resolved the steering fault which prompted the company to issue a product recall for more than 400 of its vehicles.
The administrators said they had isolated the fault – traced to a Chinese supplier – and had struck and an agreement with a UK-based firm to supply alternative parts.
Retro-fitting work on the 400 TX4 models will begin shortly and administrators said they were hopeful the work would be completed by the middle of December.
Just as importantly, the UK-sourced parts will be fitted to the vehicles already manufactured by the business but which have been stored at the firm’s Coventry factory since a freeze on new sales was issued last month.
The administrators said they were hopeful the unregistered cabs could be released for sale early next year.
The move increases the chances that a buyer for the ailing business might be found.
Since collapsing into administration last month, the firm has shed 156 workers and prospects for the business have appeared bleak.
Matthew Hammond, joint administrator and PwC partner, said: “I am pleased to be able to report that the company’s employees will be part of a massive effort to begin fitting the new UK-supplied steering box to the recalled fleet within the next 48 hours.
“Having secured replacement parts for the entire recalled fleet, the programme to fit these new components has been devised so that all recalled fleet cars will be fitted with new replacement parts by mid-December.”
He said he was aware of the difficulties the recall had created for cab drivers and owners and hoped the problem would be resolved quickly. However, he warned that due to the large number of vehicles affected in London and also in the regions, the work would take several weeks to complete.
The administrators said they were collaborating with The Mayor of London, Transport for London (TfL), the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association, other drivers’ organisations and the Vehicle Certification Agency.
“The support of the group’s management, employees and unions has been outstanding and a critical factor in getting to this stage. We are grateful for their ongoing support and resolve, and we all remain focused on securing the future of the company,” added Mr Hammond.
