ProDriver February 2026 issue

P R O F E S S I O N A L

VOLUME 17 ISSUE 01 £4.95

CHAMPIONS All All the the winners winners at at the the Professional Professional Driver Driver Awards Awards

Fuel economy figures and CO₂ results for the BMW i7 range: Mpg (l/100km): Not applicable. CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km. Electric range: 321.9 – 387.1 miles. The BMW i7 is a battery electric vehicle requiring mains electricity for charging. The electric range figures shown were achieved using the WLTP test procedure and provided for comparability purposes. Only compare with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real­life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the starting charge of the battery, accessories fitted (post registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load. Whilst we recommend the battery for these vehicles is normally charged to 80% to help optimise the health and life of your battery, these WLTP figures were obtained after the battery had been charged to 100%.

THE i7 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

contents

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14 EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Mark Bursa 07813 320044 markbursa@prodrivermags.com

COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR

Paul Webb 07807 133527 paulwebb@prodrivermags.com

CONTRIBUTORS

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6 QSi Gallery: See who attended the Professional Driver Awards, and get a flavour of a wonderful evening in our picture special QSi Winners: Which companies were voted the best in the private hire, taxi and chauffeur business?

QSi Awards: Our Professional Drivers of the Year, 2026 Car of the Year: A look back at our Judging Day at Epsom last August Car of the Year: The six cars our readers voted the best for taxi, private hire and chauffeur work Car of the Year: Our 2026 winner Winners at a glance: All our 2026 champions!

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Gary Jacobs, Kevin Willis, Tim Barnes-Clay, Phil Rule, Kwabena Dennot Nyack, Dr Mike Galvin, Tim Scrafton Registered in England No. 7086172 © 2026 All contents copyright of ProDriver Media Ltd

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PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

opinion

Let’s get serious before the fun starts

F

Mark Bursa

“

Frankly, I’m concerned that some bad decisions might be made unless we as an industry let the government know the reality of the situation

”

PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

ollowing the success of our calendar shift to January last year, we’ve decided to keep the QSi Awards at the start of the year.

There’s a logic to the change – it means our winners will be the champions for the year ahead, rather than the year that has passed. The same applies to our Cars of the Year – they’re this year’s models, not last year’s.

And you seemed to prefer having an upbeat event to kick off the year, rather than having to cram a trip to the seaside in to the hectic pre-Christmas period.

Before the fun starts at QSi, I take to the stage to deliver a brief but serious speech, in order to remind ourselves that while we are having a night off, we need to stay focused on the issues that affect us. Many of these seem to be outside our control, but we do have a voice – and we need to use it.

I spent a lot of the past year completing Government consultations - about VAT, autonomous vehicles, and the way private hire licensing is organised. And frankly, I’m concerned that some bad decisions might be made unless we as an industry let the government know the reality of the situation.

Andy Burnham’s been in the news recently – but he’s a concern to us for different reasons. The Manchester Mayor has outspoken opinions about cross-border hiring. It’s as if Andy wandered out of his office one morning, saw that some of the local minicabs had Wolverhampton license plates, and assumed that an army of Black Country drivers trundled up the M6 every day to take work from his brave Manchester cabbies.

In fact they what he was looking at were Manchester cabbies, so frustrated at the months-long delays in getting a local license that they went and got one from Wolverhampton. Unfortunately, there are senior figures in the DfT who have taken Andy’s misguided words seriously. As a result, we risk losing hard-won benefits because our politicians don’t understand our industry.

The ability to work out of area is beneficial to the industry and the public. It eliminates dead mileage – which is also good for the environment. Yet there seems to be serious consideration being given to plunging the industry back into the bad old days before the deregulation act.

We must not let this happen. There is a live consultation on this issue right now, and we all need to take part and state our case.

What we need is not a retrogressive, local approach. We need proper national standards for private hire – not minimum standards – so a private hire license in Manchester is exactly the same as one anywhere else. If bus and truck licensing can be run like that, why not private hire?

I was delighted that LPHCA chairman Steve Wright was able to join us at the QSi Awards. As many of you know, Steve had a rather worrying health issue last year, so it was great to see him on the mend. Steve is the lead voice for our industry’s call for national standards and it’s up to us to get behind him on this.

I believe the other area of concern for our industry is autonomous vehicles – or socalled “robotaxis”. The government believes this will create 20,000 new jobs in technology. That’s great – but what about the 300,000 people who drive taxis, PHVs and chauffeur cars for a living? What should they do? Will they be downgraded to car cleaners, removing half-eaten kebabs and bodily fluids from the back of the robocab?

I’ve driven cars with a high degree of autonomous capability. And they are nowhere near good enough to do the job that you do every day. A professional driver goes far beyond just steering, starting and stopping.

How’s the robotaxi going to load a family’s luggage? Or a pensioner’s shopping?

Or take vulnerable people to schools and hospitals?

Autonomous taxis might work in America, but Britain’s roads are not the straight, wide highways of the US. And frankly, is copying America right now really such a good idea?

Until someone listens to the industry, all we can do is keep on doing what we do to the best of our abilities. And that’s what the QSi Awards are for. To celebrate the best among us, and shine the spotlight on their efforts. We’re delighted to have such strong support from the industry, so thanks to all our sponsors for allowing us to put on the QSi Awards event and to our judges – Rachel Dale, Gary Jacobs, Kevin ‘Insider’ Willis, Dr Mike Galvin and David Goldring - for their sterling efforts in choosing the winners.

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business news

WHAT A NIGH W

ithin this special issue, you’ll be able to find out who were the big winners at the 2026 Professional Driver QSi Awards, as well as our 2026 Car of the Year awards.

The Professional Driver QSi Awards is the private hire, taxi and chauffeur industry’s favourite party. For the third year runing, we chose the Hilton Metropole Hotel in Brighton - a spot of bracing seaside air is a great way to kick off the new year!

We revealed our Cars of the Year for 2026. We’re very proud of our Car of the Year Awards – they are the most thorough

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reader-judged car awards anywhere in the automotive industry. Many of you attend our judging day at Epson racecourse in August, and we look forward to welcoming as many of you as possible again this year.

In Brighton our guests were treated to a night to remember as we rewarded the best operators and drivers with Gold, Silver and Bronze QSi Awards. We had great battles, with past champions battling it out against some tremendous first-time entries.

Judging the winners is certainly getting harder and harder each year, and we’d like to thank our expert judges Rachel Dale, Mike Galvin, Gary Jacobs, Kevin Willis and David

Goldring for goin us make the right and Bronze.

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PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

The 2026 Professional Driver Awards

HT!

ng the extra mile in helping t choices for Gold, Silver

y Sports Formula One preookes, who kept the rowdy while the band and the aftered on into the small hours. rateful for your continued vourite charity, Think Pink, elp women get jobs in our

ank all the sponsors that ort the QSi event – you make ext few pages will give a ening. Who can you spot?

PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

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PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

The 2026 Professional Driver Awards

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business news

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PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

The 2026 Professional Driver Awards

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PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

business news

PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

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GOLD Presla SILVER GLH BRONZE Odysse

GOLD

Sponsored by

Presla

Business Diversification Award The Business Diversification Award was introduced in 2021 to reward initiatives to develop new lines of business.

Our Gold award shows just how much innovation comes from our industry. Rather than having cars running empty half the time, why not work together with other local firms to share jobs?

And so Bournemouth operator Presla launched the Backruns platform, which is already helping operators

make the most of their resources.

Our Silver winner goes to a major London operator that has been a constant innovator for decades, pioneering cleaner vehicles and adding courier work to its private hire operations.

And it has won at least one QSi Award every year we started in 2013.

Since the pandemic, GLH has added another area of business – NHS patient transfers, which now accounts for a third of its work. In an industry first, the company is now officially

Care Quality Commissions approved.

Think Pink’s Mary Storrie collected the award on behalf of an unwell Zoe Walsh.The winning streak continues!

Our Bronze winner is a company that does things differently – for a start, it owns all its cars and employs all its drivers. But Odysse has grown rapidly in less than three years by offering a ride-hailing service in addition to its traditional pre-booked work.

As a result its fleet has grown from 3 cars in 2023 to 43 today.

BRONZE

SILVER Odysse

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GLH

PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

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PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

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Environment Award

GOLD Vert London SILVER Presla SILVER Odysse

Sponsored by

GOLD Vert London

There’s no bigger issue than the environment, and this award is for companies that are taking the green side of their business very seriously indeed.

Our green Gold award goes to a London operator that has since its launch just a few years ago has cut more than a quarter of a million tines of carbon emissions.

Green behaviour is at the heart of everything it does – even in its name.

Last year’s eco-warriors have done it again. It’s Gold for a second year running for Vert London.

Our Silver award goes to a pioneering eco-chauffeuring company that has for the past nine years been one of the most efficient all-electric airport

SILVER

SILVER Presla

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transfer companies in the UK. They even named the company in honour of a well-known electric car brand. It’s Presla.

Our Bronze award goes to Odysse, a young and ambitious company that has built its growth - from 3 cars in 2023 to 43 today - around an all-electric fleet.

Odysse

PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

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Community Award GOLD Hilton Ames Chauffeurs SILVER 247 Transport Solutions BRONZE Take Me Group

GOLD Sponsored by

Hilton Ames Chauffeurs The QSi Community Award aims to reward those operators that make an extraordinary effort to provide an exceptional service for local businesses and organisations.

It took something special to win Gold – and raising a third of a million pounds to plug a black hole in a local hospice’s budget is something special. And that’s just one of the things that our Gold winner, Exeter-based Hilton Ames Chauffeurs, has done to

raise money for its local community, including setting up a charity karting league, sporting events and supporting local food banks – all by simply asking its clients to chip in.

Our Silver winner is a company that says “community” is woven into everything it does. South Coast-based 247 Transport Solutions runs special Christmas and Easter initiatives to bring presents to underprivileged children, provides free rides for care

home residents and sponsoring the annual LGBT festival in Hastings, near its base.

Bronze goes to a company with national ambitions but a strong local focus. This includes providing food banks in the midlands to fundraising in support of the efforts of our sponsor Think Pink around the world. Crucially, Take Me Group also treats its drivers as its own community, providing support and help where needed.

BRONZE

SILVER 247 Transport Solutions

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Take Me Group

PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

Work with confidence, wherever you drive.

Partner with Blacklane and connect with global clients through a platform built to support professional chauffeurs.

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GOLD

GOLD 1st Lady Chauffeurs SILVER Privev BRONZE SP Taxi Sponsored by

1st Lady Chauffeur Services

New-Start Operator Award The New-Start Operator QSi Award aims to reward private hire, taxi and chauffeur businesses that have only recently become established in the market.

It’s open to companies that have either started operating or undergone a major change of management or direction since the start of 2021.

Our Gold winner is a new company with an experienced head at the helm – but a very original approach.

First Lady Chauffeur Services has a goal not to be the biggest – but to be the best – and the company is doing it with an all-female driving roster. The emphasis is on a calm, discreet and sensitive approach.

Silver goes to a company that has in just four years gone from a one-car chauffeur firm to becoming one of the best in London, Privev has eight electric cars, immaculately turned-out

drivers and partnerships with many leading hotels.

Our Bronze award goes to a oneman band who has taken his experience as a chauffeur working for big London fleets and translated it into an up-market local private hire service.

SP Taxis boss Stephen Philpot offers a very personalised and high-quality service in his East Anglian home town of Saffron Walden.

BRONZE

SILVER Privev

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SP Taxi

PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

Experts in Chauffeur and Private Hire Finance Ethos Asset Finance are the experts in your industry for finance solutions.

We’re here to make the whole process seamless.

We provide funding and sourcing packages for the chauffeur and private hire network We have access to multiple panels of funders who also specialise in B2B vehicles finance We make the process easy - as we do all the paperwork and sign ups We provide ongoing support to secure credit lines for fleets and operators/owner drivers We have access to competitive rates of interest Efficient payouts to support delivery and target needs Ethos are proud sponsors of the QSI Awards

01423 608666

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sales@ethos-finance.co.uk

PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

Regional Agricultural Centre, Railway Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG2 8NZ. Registered in England and Wales Registered No: 09843819 Ethos Asset Finance Limited is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for Full Permission Credit Broking under FRN 723779.

Ethos Asset Finance Limited is a Broker and not a Lender.

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21 ethosfinance.co.uk

Marketing Award GOLD Take Me Group SILVER Blacklane BRONZE Hilton Ames

GOLD

Sponsored by

Take Me Group Which companies promote their operations in the most creative and original way? The Marketing QSi Award for aims to find out.

The judges were looking for chauffeur, taxi or Private Hire operators, large or small, that make use of innovative or creative marketing and advertising across a range of media, and can show how this has improved their businesses.

Our Gold winner of the night is one

of the most original – and entertaining – users of social media.Take Me Group creates highly creative advertising across all platforms, and even produces a very watchable podcast. It’s all designed to boost what is becoming a recognisable national private hire brand.

Silver goes to a giant of the game that is becoming renowned as a real innovator. Last year Blacklane introduced a new initiative offering curated travel experiences to its client base,

SILVER Blacklane

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resulting in a surge in business. It’s advertising is smart and clever too.

Bronze goes to a company that makes exemplary use of all available media – radio, press, social media and its own entertaining newsletters.

Devon-based Hilton Ames Chauffeurs gets involved in community events and makes sure its drivers wax lyrical about the company at every opportunity. The result is solid growth in sales and client numbers.

BRONZE Hilton Ames Chauffeurs

PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

Insure your fleet with the flexibility you need Taxi Commercial Self-Drive Hire Credit Hire Visit acorninsure.co.uk

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PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

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Private Hire Operator (1-80 vehicles) GOLD Tick Taxi SILVER Castle Cars BRONZE SP Taxi

Sponsored by

GOLD Tick Taxi This is one of the most popular QSi Categories – after all, the small, local private hire and taxi fleets are the lifeblood of our business.

Our outstanding Gold winner is a young and fast-growing company that specialises in airport transfers.

It’s a small fleet that acts like a large operator, with impressive technology and support for its drivers – including interest-free loans. As a result, Bris-

tol’s Tick Taxi has achieved 200% growth in the past 12 months.

Silver goes to a company that has been a constant presence in its home town for more than 30 years, offering a safe, reliable and community-focused service.

Now Tonbridge’s Castle Cars has added cleaner vehicles and a solar battery storage facility that has saved money and carbon emissions.

Our Bronze Award goes to the smallest and newest company con the shortlist.

This new operator, which only started up in 2025, has adapted the high levels of customer service of a top London chauffeur to a local private hire business, offering a personalised and sustainable service in Saffron Walden. It’s a second Bronze award on the night for SP Taxi.

BRONZE

SILVER Castle Cars

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SP Taxi

PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

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Private Hire Operator (81+ vehicles) GOLD Parker Car Service SILVER Your Local Car BRONZE Royal Cars BRONZE City Cars Glasgow Sponsored by

GOLD This category always attracts a seriously high-quality entry, and this year’s is the biggest and most diverse to date.

As is sometimes the case, our judges find it hard to get the shortlist down to a final three. So we’ve got a final four, with two Bronze winners.

Our Gold winner is London-based Parker Car Service. From big picture initiatives such as an operator sharing system and a driver training academy to small details such as making sure the phones are answered on the first ring and making sure vulnerable

Parker Car Service

travellers are properly looked after, everything is done properly.

The Silver award goes to a company that not long ago featured in the 1-80 car category. But a hugely innovative programme of bringing smaller operators under its umbrella, with shared back office resources, has seen Camberley’s Your Local Car double its fleet to 120 cars in three years. And all new vehicles will be electric from now on.

Our first Bronze award goes to a company that responded to the arrival of Uber in its home town by not get-

SILVER

BRONZE Your Local Car

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ting into a race to the bottom. Instead, Oxford’s Royal Cars increased its focus on the local community, sponsoring local sports teams, promoting cycling in a bike-friendly city and training drivers to recognise vulnerable passengers.

Our second bronze award goes to a well-established company that has been through a lot of changes recently.

City Cars of Glasgow has made two acquisitions that have increased its local presence, and it has become the first British fleet to partner with ridehail app Free Now.

Royal Cars

PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

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Private Hire Group

GOLD DG Group SILVER Take Me Group BRONZE Addison Lee

GOLD Sponsored by

DG Group This is our newest award, first awarded in 2023. It’s designed to recognise operators running fleets in excess of 1,000 vehicles in multiple locations or under multiple brands.

Our Gold winner has quietly grown from a one-city operator to a major player serving 11 cities and three major regional airports.

Last year its turnover grow 50% and driver numbers rose by 30% all without losing sight of its core

values of a strong customer focus and leadership in environmentally friendly transport.

In addition, the company has added special educational needs transport to its portfolio, and it continues to work to boost the number of women drivers in its fleet. For the second year running, our winner is DG Group.

Silver goes to a company that is one of the most progressive in the UK, with rapid and sustained growth

SILVER

BRONZE Addison Lee

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backed by creative and innovative marketing leading to the creation of a brand that is national in look but very locally focused. It’s Take Me Group.

Our Bronze winner proves that being big doesn’t mean you can’t offer a personalised service. Addison Lee celebrated its 50th birthday last year by combining a successful marketing campaign with an increased focus on environmental issues and community partnerships.

Take Me Group

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GOLD Limotak SILVER Privev BRONZE Glasgow Chauffeur Hire Sponsored by

GOLD Limotak

Chauffeur Operator (1-10 vehicles) This is always a closely-fought category, and the judges usually spend a long time choosing their winners.

It always attracts a strong entry of companies with a focus on personal service, and the successful entrants are those with a vital “x factor”. This category had the biggest entry of all this year, with a shortlist of 10 companies.

Our Gold winner is very young company, which only started operating in 2023. But Limotak has now

built a fleet of 10 cars, and in addition it has established a global network of partners in many countries, bookable via its own app. And its ambitions will surely take it into the big league next year.

Silver goes to a company that has muscled in to the very competitive London market in just four years.

Privev has partnerships with 19 leading hotels, and its high quality of service thanks to a well-trained driver

roster and 100% electric fleet has seen it grow rapidly to a fleet of 8 cars.

Our Bronze winner does everything you’d expect a top-class chauffeur to do – but the judges were impressed by the meticulous way it goes about its business. Drivers are hand-picked for their customer-handling skills as much as their driving and local knowledge.

From airport runs to events to tours, everything is just right at Glasgow Chauffeur Hire.

SILVER Privev

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PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

Meet the fully electric Volvo ES90.

In a class of its own.

With a roomy and quiet cabin, 5G connectivity, and a luxurious interior, the Volvo ES90 is designed to elevate your passenger’s experience and enrich your drive. Ergonomically designed rear seats recline individually at the touch of a button. 800V battery technology means up to 170 miles of charge in 10 mins* and with advanced driver support, you will arrive safely and in style.

Search Volvo ES90

Fuel economy and CO₂ results for the Volvo ES90: Mpg (I/100km): Not applicable, CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km, electric range 393.5 – 435.0 miles.

These figures were obtained after the battery had been fully charged. The Volvo ES90 is a battery electric vehicle requiring mains electricity for charging. The electric range shown was achieved using the new (WLTP) test procedure. Figures shown are for comparability purposes. Only compare fuel consumption, CO₂ and electric range figures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors. *Charge time based on using a 370kW DC charger.

PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

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Chauffeur Operator (11+ vehicles) GOLD Belgraves of London SILVER Privilege Executive SILVER Little's BRONZE SCS Sponsored by

GOLD Belgraves of London This is another tough category, where Quality and Service are a given – so it’s often down to Innovation to decide the medals.

The judges had a tough time choosing a winner in this category due to the incredibly high standard of the entries.

So we decided to award a bronze, two silvers and a gold.

Our Gold once again went to Belgraves of London, which last year launched its own training academy – not just for its own drivers – and continued to develop its diplomatic and protection division to a level that the police described as unmatched in the UK. The first Silver award goes to a long-established company with strong values and amazing driver retention.

Glasgow-based Little’s Chauffeur Drive

has modernised systems and focused on growth, setting up an operation in Aberdeen. Its red cars make it one of the most distinctive companies in the business.

Our second silver goes to a company that has become a regional powerhouse, with a number of acqusistions boosting its fleet to 35 cars. With a blue chip client base and a strong focus on training, Privilege Executive Cars has become the go-to chauffeur in West Yorkshire.

Our Bronze award goes to Specialist Chauffeur Services of Wilmslow, which provides a very high standard of service – largely thanks to its policy of employing and training its drivers via its own in-house training programmes – run by 2025 Professional Driver of the Year Gary Dodd.

SILVER Little's

SILVER Privilege Executive

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BRONZE SCS

PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

Exciting News!

QSi Awards Charity of the Year: Think Pink.

Powered by the Rosie May Foundation, Think Pink empowers women with distinctive pink tuk tuks for safe transport and employment in South East Asia. Now, we aim to bring this initiative to the UK to address the driver shortage.

Join the Think Pink Alliance: •

Raise awareness of driving careers for women

•

Offer training, mentoring, and benefits

•

Create a supportive community

•

Reinvest profits to grow our cause

Support our mission!

We’re seeking operators and aggregators to help women drivers in the UK. Visit thinkpinkdrivers.uk to learn more.

Join us in revolutionising the industry!

PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

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Profession GOLD Graham 'Orangee' Ansell, 257 Transport Solutions SILVER Godwin Omotobora, Addison Lee BRONZE Graham Nealen, Parkers Chauffeurs

O

ur 2026 Professional Driver is a character who stands out from the crowd. He’s usually wearing orange – and he’s even known as “Orangee”. But Graham Ansell, who drives for South Coast-based 247 Transport Solutions, hasn’t won for his sartorial style.

The Professional Driver of the Year Award is for an individual private hire driver or chauffeur who provides the absolute highest standard of service, in terms of driving skills, customer service, personality, and ability to represent their company.

And Orangee ticks all those boxes. In fact he’s one of the most extraordinary drivers we’ve come across. He is reliable, safe, and professional – but his distinctive and cheerful personality makes every journey memorable.

But that’s not all. He’s devoted to supporting a local Children’s Charity – not just through attending events and promoting the charity. He gives all his tips to the charity. Every day, and he’s done so for years. That amounts to well over £6,000, and counting. His employer, 247 Transport Solution boss Stew Smith, says: “He is authentic. Nothing he does is for show. His energy, his kindness, and his efforts for charity come from a genuine place.

He is a reminder that professional driving is a people business – and no one embodies that truth better than him.”

Our Silver award goes to Addison Lee driver Godwin Omotobora. Godwin was already known within the company as a calm and professional driver. But that was put to the test last year when a passenger was taken ill in his car. He stopped safely, called for help, but realised he would have to perform CPR while the ambulance was on his way. These quick actions saved the passenger’s life.

His company later said: “His ability to think clearly, follow instructions, and do everything possible to help his passenger was extraordinary. He refused to give up.”

The Bronze award goes to Graham Nealen of Parkers Chauffeurs. Graham is not only the team leader at his fast-growing company. He’s a mentor to the other drivers and an ambassador for the brand. His company says: “Graham doesn’t just drive; he protects, anticipates and reassures. In a profession defined by precision, Graham’s superpower is calm.”

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Sponsored by

PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

QSi Awards 2025

nal Driver of the Year

The 2025 Professional Drivers of the Year: From left: Godwin Omotobora, 'Orangee' Ansell and Graham Nealen

PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

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news analysis: karhoo

PICKING O WINNERS! WINNERS

Spon

T

he Professional Driver Car of the Year awards are a fixture on the calendar– and last August’s judging day was the best yet.

We had a full house, with all the cars out on test, all day long.

More than 100 business owners and drivers joined us at Epsom Racecourse on a sunny day last August to evaluate more than 50 of the latest cars suitable for chauffeuring or taxi work.

In the following pages you’ll discover which cars they chose as our winners in each of the six categories - Chauffeur Car, Executive Car, Private Hire Vehicle, Luxury SUV, Estate Car and MPV. And of course, you’ll discover which one wascrowned our Professional Driver Car of the Year for 2026.

Here's a look back at our judging day, where you can get a flavour of the day as our judges stuck to the task of evaluating the best cars. We're already working on this year's judging day - it’ll be back at Epsom on August 11. We look forward to seeing you there!

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PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

C a r o f t h e Ye a r 2 0 2 5

OUR S!

nsored by

PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

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C a r o f t h e Ye a r 2 0 2 5

Luxury SUV of the Year

Volvo EX90

C

hauffeur cars are increasingly becoming SUVshaped, partly because customers like them, and partly because SUVs make electrified cars as there’s plenty of room under the floor to stash the battery.

Our shortlist includes full electric hybrid models – and even a diesel. And in the end, the vote was the closest of any category.

The BMW X7 PHEV came

third – but it was two electric SUVs that fought it out for the prize. One was last year’s winner, the Mercedes EQS SUV, and the other was the newest car on show – the Volvo EX90.

Which one would triumph?

By the tightest of margins, it was the outstanding, refined and roomy Volvo EX90.which looks like it will carry on the momentum of its predecessor, the XC90, a two-time winner of this category.

Runner-up: Mercedes EQS SUV

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Sponsored by

ROLL OF HONOUR 2025

Mercedes EQS SUV

2017

Volvo XC60 D5

2023

Volvo XC90 Recharge 2016

Audi Q7 3.0TDI SE

2022

BMW iX 40

2015

Volvo XC90 D5

2021

Audi e-tron

2014

Range Rover LWB

2019

BMW X7

2013

Range Rover Vogue

2018

Audi Q8 50 quattro

2012

Porsche Cayenne D

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C a r o f t h e Ye a r 2 0 2 5

Estate Car of the Year

Volkswagen Passat

E

state cars are undergoing something of a revival. As recently as 2023, wagons were in such short supply that this category was not awarded. But a crop of exciting new and revised models mean the estate car is well and truly back.

Given the sort of work that estates tend to be used for – airport runs and longer-distance journeys – it was no surprise

to see a lot of hybrids on the shortlist. And there was a clear winner. Despite strong support for two VW group rivals, our champion is the incredibly practical and very roomy Volkswagen Passat PHEV. Another past winner came second. Skoda has revised and upgraded the Superb, and it's still the sector leader for boot space. In third was the electric Audi A6 Avant, an impressive return to form.

Runner-up: Skoda Superb

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BMW i5 Touring

2019

Skoda Octavia Estate (Private Hire)

2023

Not awarded

2022

BMW 530e Touring

2018

Mazda 6 Tourer

2017

Mercedes-Benz E220d

2021

Volvo V90 T6

2016

Skoda Superb

2019

BMW 520d Touring (Executive)

2015

BMW 520d Touring SE

2014

BMW 520d Touring SE

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C a r o f t h e Ye a r 2 0 2 5

MPV of the Year

Lexus LM350h

V

an-based people-movers are now now the standard in the MPV sector though change is afoot.

Once again, the perennial favourite in this class – the Mercedes V-Class – was unavailable, leaving the field open for a slightly left-field winner like last year’s win for the Volkswagen ID.Buzz.

The shortlist includes van

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VW ID.Buzz Mercedes-Benz EQV Volkswagen Multivan Mercedes-Benz EQV Mercedes-Benz V-Class Mercedes-Benz V-Class Mercedes-Benz V-Class Seat Alhambra

conversions and large car-based EVs. But the winner was the one car in the list that was a purpose -designed people-mover.

The Lexus LM350h is distinctive, luxurious and backed by a manufacturer with a great reputation for reliability. It’s a descendent of the Toyota Alphard, a popular Japanese grey import, but with higher levels of luxury.

Runner-up was the roomy Hyundai Ioniq 9 EV, ahead of its close relative, the Kia EV9.

Runner-up: Hyundai Ioniq 9 2015

Ford Galaxy

2014

Ford Tourneo Custom

2013

Mercedes-Benz Viano

2012

Ford Galaxy

2011

Volkswagen Sharan

2010

Ford Galaxy

2009

Ford Galaxy

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C a r o f t h e Ye a r 2 0 2 5

Private Hire Car of the Year

BYD Seal U

T

he Private Hire Car of the Year Award attracts the biggest entry, and the cars on the shortlist are increasingly Chinese in origin, and electric.

As always this was a close contest, with the top three only covered by a handful of points.

And the top three were all Chinese brand cars.

A surprising third place went to the all-electric Skywell

BE11, which scored heavily on interior space. In second came the largest of the three BYD models on the shortlist, the Sealion 7 EV. But it was the practicality and range of a plug-in hybrid that triumphed. The Seal U offers clean emissions coupled with enormous range. It’s the second year running readers have voted for a BYD as Private Hire Car of the Year. Interestingly, last year’s winner, the Seal, came fourth.

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Runner-up: BYD Sealion 7 PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

2021 2019 2018 2017

BYD Seal Hyundai Ioniq 5 Skoda Enyaq iV (electric) Skoda Superb iV (hybrid) Kia e-Niro Vauxhall Insignia Toyota Prius Ford Mondeo

2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009

Skoda Superb Ford Mondeo Skoda Octavia Skoda Superb Volkswagen Passat Skoda Superb Skoda Superb Skoda Superb

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C a r o f t h e Ye a r 2 0 2 5

Executive Car of the Year

BMW 550e

T

he BMW 550e, the plug-in hybrid version of the 5-series, is our 2026 Executive Car of the year, beating a high-qulaity field including the electric i5.

Executive Cars are the lifeblood of the chauffeur market – and this is a very competitive sector. We’re starting to see some really practical electric options in this sector, and all but one of the cars in our

Runner-up: Polestar BMW i5 4

shortlist were electric vehicles.

Andin a close vote, it was the hybrid that triumphed.

We also saw strong voting for the Polestar 4, which bodes well for future models from the Chinese brand, which will be launching a larger Polestar 5 in this sector this year..

And Volkswagen’s new ID.7 also scored well, with judges commenting that it showed a marked increase in quality over other VW ID models.

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2015 Audi A6 2.0 TDI Ultra 2014 Audi A6 2.0 TDI Ultra 2013 Mercedes-Benz E300h 2012 Volvo S80 2011 BMW 530d GT 2010 BMW 530d GT 2009 Mercedes-Benz E250

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C a r o f t h e Ye a r 2 0 2 5

Chauffeur Car of the Year

BMW i7

O

ur Chauffeur Car of the Year is, for the third year running, a version of the latest topof-the-range BMW 7-series line-up.

In 2023, the hybrid 760e triumphed, but this year, as in 2025, the all-electric i7 was top dog for a second consecutive year, evidence of how acceptable the battery-powered flagship Beemer is becoming.

The luxury limo market has become a two-way shoot-out between BMW and MercedesBenz, But with Mercedes not entering the S-Class this year, the only rival to the two 7-series variants was the luxury-spec version of the Lexus LM350h, with two large individual rear seats, and this special super-luxury chauffeur version was well received. But once again, the BMW 7-series sits at the top of the pile.

Runner-up: BMW 760e 750e

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2015 Range Rover LWB SDV6 2014 Mercedes-Benz S300L 2013 Audi A8L 3.0TDI 2012 Mercedes-Benz S350L 2011 BMW 730Ld 2010 Jaguar XJL 3.0D 2009 BMW 730Ld

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BMW i7 C a r o f t h e Ye a r 2 0 2 6

O

ur 2026 Professional Driver Car of the Year is the BMW i7.

The luxury electric limousine was chosen from the six Car of the Year category winners as the car that best captures the spirit of the times.

The six Car of the Year category winners form the shortlist for our overall Car of the Year award, and it proved to be a difficult choice for the overall winner, with several cars making a strong case.

In recent years there has been a marked increase in electric category winners, but it’s perhaps a sign of the times that EVs are in a minority this year. Four of our six category winners are hybrids compared to five out of six EVs last year – maybe that range anxiety hasn’t quite gone away yet.

But despite the resurgence of the hybrids, the outstanding vehicle within the six winners was electric. The BMW i7 has revolutionised the chauffeur sector, helping its maker to become the number one chauffeur car in London for the first time.

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PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

BMW's sales team celebrate the win

ROLL OF HONOUR 2025 2023 2022 2021 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009

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BYD Seal BMW 7-series Genesis G80 electrified Mercedes-Benz EQV Mercedes-Benz V220d Jaguar I-Pace EV400 Mercedes-Benz E220d BMW 730Ld Tesla S85 Mercedes-Benz S300 Mercedes-Benz E300 Volvo S80 D3 SE BMW 730Ld Jaguar XJL 3.0D BMW 730Ld

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Winners at a glance

Professional Driver 2026 QSi Awards Winners Private Hire Group GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Community Award

DG Group Take Me Group Addison Lee

GOLD SILVER SILVER BRONZE

Private Hire Operator, 81+ vehicles GOLD SILVER BRONZE BRONZE

Parker Car ServiceYour Local Car Royal Cars City Cars Glasgow

New-start Operator GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Private Hire Operator, 1-80 vehicles GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Tick Taxi Castle Cars SP Taxi

Chauffeur Operator, 1-10 vehicles GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Limotak Privev Glasgow Chauffeur Hire

Chauffeur Operator, 11+ vehicles GOLD SILVER BRONZE BRONZE

Belgraves of London Privilege Executive Little's SCS

247 Transport GLH Hilton Ames 001 Taxis

1st Lady Chauffeur Presla SP Taxi

Business Diversification Award GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Marketing Award GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Clocktower Cars UK Car Bookings Sherbet

Professional Driver of the Year Graham ‘Orangee’ Ansell, 247 Transport Solutions SILVER Godwin Omotobora Addison Lee BRONZE Graham Nealen, Parkers Chauffeurs GOLD

Environment Award GOLD SILVER SILVER

Presla GLH Odysse

Vert London Privev Odysse

Professional Driver 2026 Car of the Year winners Car of the Year

BMW i7

Chauffeur Car Winner Runner-up

Luxury SUV BMW i7 BMW 760e

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Volvo EX90 Mercedes EQS SUV

BMW 550e Polestar 4

Winner Runner-up

Winner Runner-up

BYD Seal U BYD Sealion 7

Estate Car

MPV

Executive Car Winner Runner-up

Winner Runner-up

Private Hire Car

Lexus LM350h Hyundai Ioniq 9

Winner Runner-up

Volkswagen Passat Skoda Superb

PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

Tuesday, August 11, 19, 2026, 2025, Epsom Racecourse

Join our Car of the Year 2027 judging panel W

e’ll be judging next year’s Cars of the Year - yes, the 2027 winners - on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at our regular venue, Epsom Racecourse in Surrey. It’s a fun day where you will have the chance to drive up to 50 of the latest cars suitablefor private hire and chauffeur work.

We’d love it if you could join us for the day and help us choose our winners. Put the date in your diary and let us know by emailing editor@prodrivermags.com and we’ll be in touch. See you there!

In association with

PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

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The Professional Driver Awards are sponsored by: