Express Taxis has completed the acquisition of Apollo Taxis, creating a combined fleet of more than 400 vehicles and establishing the business as the largest independent private hire operator in Kent.

The acquisition represents a significant milestone for both companies and marks the latest stage in Express Taxis' continued expansion across the county, reinforcing its position as one of the region's leading providers of private hire, executive travel and corporate transport solutions.

By bringing together two of Maidstone's best-known operators, customers will benefit from increased vehicle availability, faster response times and an even broader range of services, including executive vehicles, MPVs, 8-seaters, 16-seater minibuses and airport transfers.

The move also significantly strengthens the combined business's ability to compete with national ride-hailing platforms such as Uber, while retaining the local knowledge, customer service and community focus that independent operators are renowned for.

As part of the acquisition, Apollo Taxis Director Tom Veitch has joined Express Taxis as Business Development Manager, where he will focus on expanding the company's corporate portfolio and developing new partnerships with businesses across Kent.

Speaking about the acquisition, Tom Veitch (pictured below in blue with Director of Express, Vinnie Landolo) said;

"This is a hugely positive moment for the people of Maidstone and for businesses across Kent. By bringing Apollo and Express together, we've created the largest private hire operator in the county and put ourselves in an incredibly strong position for future growth.

The ability to say 'yes' to more bookings, provide greater availability and deliver a consistently reliable service has never been more important. That's one of the main reasons I felt the time was right for Apollo to become part of Express.

We share the same ambitions, the same values and the same commitment to providing an outstanding local service. Together, we have the scale to compete with global operators while still offering the personal service, local knowledge and community focus that customers value.

This merger gives us the best of both worlds—a truly local company with the resources, technology and fleet size to deliver at a level few regional operators can match."

The enlarged business will continue investing in technology, customer experience and driver recruitment, ensuring it remains well-positioned to meet growing demand from both private and corporate customers.

With more than 400 vehicles now operating across Kent, Express Taxis is able to offer one of the widest transport solutions in the region, serving individual passengers, local authorities, schools, NHS organisations and businesses of all sizes.

The acquisition also represents a significant investment in the future of local transport. At a time when many independent operators are facing increasing pressure from multinational ride-hailing companies, the merger demonstrates that locally owned businesses can continue to innovate, invest and grow while keeping decision-making and employment within the communities they serve.

For customers, the message is simple: greater availability, more choice, enhanced reliability and the reassurance of using Kent's largest independent private hire operator.

The acquisition marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Express Taxis, with further investment and expansion plans already underway as the company continues its mission to provide industry-leading transport services throughout Kent."

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