Anyone who has visited the city of London before will instantly recognize the quintessentially British black taxi cabs that fill the streets. But these nifty little vehicles are no longer exclusively for the English – they are now being manufactured in China, as well.

In April 2007, the first Chinese manufactured black taxi cabs were unveiled. A collaborative effort between Geely, one of China’s leading car makers, and Manganese Bronze Holdings, the Chinese made black cabs feature all the same qualities of the classic London black cabs, which are famous for their durability and classic design. The cabs feature a lot of room for travelers, and are well equipped at handling physically challenged passengers.

It has been said that twenty thousand of these vehicles will be produced at Geely’s Shanghai factory each year. The cars, which first hit the streets of London in the year 1948, are intended to be sold in Asia for about half the price that the cars are sold for in England – between $20,000 and $25,000, making it a great deal. Manganese Bronze, the other partner in the venture, will sell the cabs outside of the Asian market. Manganese Bronze is said to have invested nearly twenty million pounds in the project.

As for the home market, things are looking good. It seems as though the black taxi cab will become to be as well known in major cities throughout China as it is in the British capital. Starting in the year 2008, the cars will be manufactured in a new facility that Geely has set up next to its Shanghai headquarters just for this special task.