Manganese Bronze completes repairs on faulty cabs raising hopes of a buy-out

REPAIRS have been completed to more than 400 black cabs forced off the road when manufacturer Manganese Bronze discovered faults in the steering mechanism of the vehicles.

The announcement raises hopes that the Coventry-based business, currently in administration, may now be a more attractive proposition to potential buyers.

Administrator PwC has a set a deadline of New Year’s Eve to try and find a buyer for the ailing business, which collapsed in October after a rescue for the business failed and it was forced to issue a product recall on the faulty vehicles.

The administrators have said they remain hopeful of finding a buyer but have not disclosed details of their negotiations.

The fault was traced back to faulty parts supplier by a Chinese supplier.

Administrators struck a deal with a UK-based firm to supply alternative parts and the workers kept on at the business following its collapse have now completed the work.

The UK-sourced parts are also being fitted to the hundreds of TX4 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 following administration.

It is hoped the work will be completed by February.