THE head of Harley-Davidson's European business is to take control of Coventry-based taxi maker Manganese Bronze.

John Russell will join the company, which owns London Taxis International based in Holyhead Road, as chief executive.

He is being brought in to help drive expansion of the firm which is making major inroads into the international market.

His appointment comes just four months after Manganese Bronze signed a £53 million contract with a Chinese group to manufacture the famous black taxis in Shanghai.

Up to 20,000 vehicles a year will be built and will appear on city streets in China and other developing economies.

Mr Russell, aged 57, formerly worked for Unipart, Peugeot, Rover and Land Rover. He replaces Ian Pickering who left Manganese Bronze last year. 
 
 
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