
The UK has taken a step towards the commercial reality of electric air taxis, with the opening of the country’s first dedicated air taxi assembly centre at Cotswold Airport in Gloucestershire, according to a BBC News report.
Bristol-based aerospace company Vertical Aerospace has established the new facility to manufacture its electric “Valo” aircraft, which is designed to carry up to four passengers on journeys of up to 100 miles (160km) while producing zero operating emissions.
The development marks a significant milestone for the UK’s emerging advanced air mobility sector. The new centre adds around 60,000 square feet of assembly space to the company’s existing flight test operations at Cotswold Airport, where its aircraft are already undergoing development and testing.
Vertical Aerospace chief executive, Stuart Simpson, told the BBC that the company was moving closer to making the concept of “flying cars” and “flying taxis” a reality.
He described the opening as an important stage in the firm’s transition from testing prototype aircraft to becoming a commercial manufacturer.
Production of certification aircraft is expected to begin in late 2027, with the company targeting regulatory certification for commercial operations in 2029. Initial production capacity is expected to exceed 25 aircraft per year, with plans for much larger-scale manufacturing in the future.
Vertical Aerospace said it has secured around 1,500 pre-orders for the aircraft from customers including airlines and aviation operators.
The company has also indicated that details of a separate high-volume production facility are expected to be announced later this year.

Because drivers spend long hours on the road, particularly late at night, they are uniquely positioned to notice unusual behaviour and criminal exploitation in local communities.

Serious questions are being raised about Bradford Council’s tendering process following reports that Girlington PH has received a letter terminating its remaining school transport contracts.

The unprecedented response follows a FairFuelUK campaign urging supporters to contact the Government directly and demand policies that support drivers, reduce business costs and boost economic growth.

The new contract with CMAC will simplify the way journeys are booked and managed across the network, through a single platform. 

Joining from Zoopla, where he was Vice President of Marketing, Joby will lead Veezu’s brand, passenger marketing and driver-partner attraction as the business continues to grow across the UK.

Mohammad Yasin, the MP for Bedford and Kempston, has written to Mayor Tom Wootton demanding an urgent explanation over persistent delays in issuing and renewing taxi licences.

Under the current policy, vehicles that exceed standard age limits are reviewed individually, with input from licensing officers and a qualified vehicle engineer.

A cabbie received a £300 fine following a fixed penalty notice after CCTV footage showed him driving a Norwich woman to Bowers Avenue to dump rubbish.

Annual spending has steadily increased from £7.4 million in 2021/22 and £7.9 million in 2022/23, to £7.8 million in 2023/24, £9.2 million in 2024/25, and £10.3 million in 2025/26.

The review, which is the first since April 2024, aims to strengthen passenger safety while simplifying requirements for the trade following feedback from drivers and operators.

Emma Richards, of Litherland, sobbed and fell to the floor despite being given an 18-month community order and a six-month alcohol abstinence requirement.

Gregor Thomson was captured on dash-cam footage holding up the cab driver following a late-night pick-up in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, on 5 May.

The situation is made worse by local authority regulations, which have left the maximum fares that hackney carriage taxis can charge unchanged for the last four years.

Drivers belonging to the IWGB Union showed up at TfL’s annual Transport Dinner this evening to call on Sadiq Khan to stop the rollout of driverless cars in London 

Hasan Saghir, 26, travelled 220 miles from his home to Shepton Mallet in Somerset on 6 February to collect the package, using his cab to blend in and evade detection.

The initiative aims to strike a balance between running costs for taxi operators and affordability for local passengers.

Thirty licensed vehicles were pulled over and inspected during the multi-agency crackdown involving Walsall Council, City of Wolverhampton Council and West Midlands Police.

The taxi driver immediately recognised the note was fake due to the way it felt in his hands. When questioned, the passenger handed over further notes which were also fake.

Partnering with tech firms Verne and Pony.ai, Uber announced the news on 14 October, following the launch of Europe’s first robotaxi service on the Uber app in Zagreb in August.

The decision followed an application from the Boston HCA, which warned price hikes were vital to keep businesses afloat amid rising fuel prices, staffing costs and insurance premiums.
