The Checker Taxi Stand

RS · Guest

Wondering if anyone heard about this company yet? A company called Vehicle Production Group LLC, out of Troy, Michigan plans to launch a purpose-built taxi cab onto the market in the 4th quarter of 2007, calling it the Standard Taxi.

Besides the possible trademark infringement problems with Standard Cars brand owner Nanjing Automobile, the cab also happens to be even uglier than Britain's Metrocab MC1. It features a GM V6 and will be built in Michigan, presumably at a cost less than that of the LTI TXII. Its an interesting project, and it will be nice to see a spiritual successor to Checker on the roads (not that Checker Motors ever would have built something so ugly though).

Still, it actually does bear something of a resemblence to the prototype Checker was working on when production halted in the early 1980's. Coincidence?

Here's the link to their site www.standardtaxi.com

Guest · Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 9:00 pm Post subject: Standard

I'm sorry, but that thing looks like the result of an unholy union between an '86 Volvo and a Scion xB!

john_w · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:35 pm Post subject:

Looks like it is close to a done deal. Here's a story from the South Bend Tribune:

July 11, 2008 South Bend Tribune - AM General calls for a cab

Ron Leatz spotted this story and sent me a hard copy of it.

John W

john_w · Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 6:38 pm Post subject:

Additional info ... according to the August 17, 2008 South Bend (IN) Tribune, production will start in 2010. Here's the full story:

VPG set for rapid taxi rollout

John W