More than 200 of One80’s Mercedes Vito Taxis will be fitted with E‑Leather upholstered seats and interiors each year. Each taxi features six square metres of black E‑Leather upholstery, chosen to maintain the classic styling of the Mercedes vehicle.

A key requirement for One80 was to use an application which is durable, as taxis may travel up to 100km in one year, but must still look like a new car.

Roy McMaster, sales and marketing director at One80, said: “E‑Leather looks great when it is upholstered in our taxis. It looks and feels as good as traditional leather with a nice finish and above all it is very durable and stays fresh, which is essential when transporting so many passengers.”

E-LEATHER HAILS A TAXI

E‑Leather products are re-woven using surplus leather fibre and are supplied in rolls which results in only a five per cent cutting wastage compared to up to 40 per cent wastage for traditional hides. E‑Leather distributes its unique material to the transport industry including the aviation, rail and automotive sectors.

“Our taxis are used by thousands of people each year and are subjected to a lot of wear and tear but E‑Leather looks like new and maintains a good appearance and consistency, even after months of use.” added Roy.

One80 markets itself direct to taxi dealers who, in turn, sell to taxi companies and individual private hire drivers. Its Mercedes Vito Taxis are approved by the public taxi office in London and as such need to maintain a high quality of service to retain its status.