The carefully selected vehicles are all well-specified Ford Galaxy 1.8 TDCi diesel models in black. Each car will be equipped with a specialised Telematics package.

Dagenham Motors' Edgware Road outlet in London is supplying the vehicles which replace Addison Lee's existing Fiat Ulysse and VW Sharan fleet. In total, their London-based passenger-car fleet boasts 1,500 air-conditioned people carriers.

Addison Lee’s Managing Director, Liam Griffin, said: “We did our homework, and the new Galaxy’s whole-life costs looked very favourable. But Addison Lee is committed to providing a quality service to discerning customers, so we primarily made the decision to go with Galaxy because they’re the most stylish MPV on the market, and that will appeal greatly to our customers."

He continued: “Also, the new Ford has a very practical seating configuration which maximises load space, and that’s particularly useful for our airport work.”

Kevin Griffin, Ford's Fleet Operations Director, said: “We are delighted that Addison Lee has recognised the class-leading attributes of the new Ford Galaxy. It complements precisely their own prestige status as a provider of upmarket chauffeured vehicles.”