Request ID: FOI-4117-2324 Date published: 01 March 2024
You asked
Hi
I would like to find out as much information as possible about taxi top advertising please ?
1. Which companies have applied for advertising with illuminated panels/ screens?
2. Why numbers were limited to only 1000 TX4 taxis?
3. What other restrictions are applied to Taxi top advertising ?
4. Are there any changes to policies planned in the near future?
5. Are LEVC electric taxis eligible for illuminated taxi top advertising screen ?
Please provide as much information as possible.
Thank you for your time
We answered
Thank you for your request received on 11 February 2023 asking for information regarding taxi top advertising.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require.
Your questions and our replies are as follows:
1. Which companies have applied for advertising with illuminated panels/ screens?
We do not tender or issue contracts for these devices - we carry out an approvals process to ensure the products are safe, legal and/or appropriate.
We can confirm that there are no discussions currently underway regarding the approval of digital advertising technology on taxi vehicles.
2. Why numbers were limited to only 1000 TX4 taxis?
A decision to limit the number of vehicles to 1,000 was made to allow us to properly assess their impact and how they are received by the public, as well as to ensure that the visual impact of the London taxi and the streetscape of London was maintained.
3. What other restrictions are applied to Taxi top advertising ?
There are currently no approved manufactures providing taxi top advertising.
4. Are there any changes to policies planned in the near future?
The trial we carried out in relation to taxi-top advertising for TX4 model taxis proved unsuccessful with no benefit gained to either the taxi trade or general public.
Furthermore, the predominant taxi currently in use in London, the LEVC TX Vista has not been designed to carry such constructions and therefore we are not considering approvals for taxi-top advertising devices.
5. Are LEVC electric taxis eligible for illuminated taxi top advertising screen?
No, please see our answers to question 3 and 4 above.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely
Sara Thomas FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
