Street Cars
StreetCars Manchester is a privately held private hire taxi operator, founded in 2002, running the largest fleet of private hire vehicles and hybrid cars in Manchester. It serves corporate clients, airport travellers, university students, and the public across Manchester and Stansted Airport.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersManchester, United Kingdom
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Street Cars does
Street Cars, trading as StreetCars Manchester, is a privately held private hire taxi operator founded in 2002 and headquartered at 16 Chorlton St., Manchester. The company runs the largest fleet of private hire vehicles, executive cars, and minibuses in Manchester City Centre, including the city's largest hybrid vehicle fleet (Toyota Prius standard, Mercedes E-Class executive, Mercedes V-Class minibus). It serves four primary customer segments: corporate/business clients, airport travellers, university students, and the general public, operating 24/7 across Manchester, Greater Manchester, Manchester Airport, and London Stansted Airport.
The company's service platform is built on Autocab dispatch and booking technology, extended with a proprietary mobile app (StreetCarsMCR) on iOS and Android, a 24/7 IVR-enabled call centre, and real-time flight monitoring integrated with ranked physical presence at all three Manchester Airport terminals. Booking and account management flow through phone/IVR, web, and mobile app, with operational features including live vehicle tracking, push notifications, automated dispatch, and a 1% cashback rewards programme.
Revenue is generated primarily through metered transaction fees for standard and airport rides, plus subscription-style corporate account contracts with over 1,000 business clients (including Manchester United, Manchester City Council, Northern Rail, and Hilton), supplemented by student discounts (10–20% off), ancillary business services (freephone installations, intercom systems, cigarette bin distribution), and premium airport transfers. Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer channels (app, website, IVR), B2B enterprise sales for corporate accounts, university student-union partnerships under the Safe Taxi Scheme, and airport operator concessions.
Street Cars firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Street Cars
- Legal name
- StreetCars Manchester
- Website
- https://streetcarsmanchester.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- StreetCars Manchester is a privately held private hire taxi operator, founded in 2002, running the largest fleet of private hire vehicles and hybrid cars in Manchester. It serves corporate clients, airport travellers, university students, and the public across Manchester and Stansted Airport.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Street Cars industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Hire Taxi Services
- NAICS
- Taxi and Ridesharing Services (48531), Taxi and Limousine Service (4853)
- SIC
- Transportation Services (4700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Airport Taxi & Ground Transportation Operators (TLAFAHAE)
Keywords
Where Street Cars is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Manchester
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Street Cars business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Metered Taxi Fares: Standard metered taxi fares charged 24/7 with same tariff regardless of time. Set fares for popular destinations including Manchester Airport, Old Trafford, and City Stadium. Accepts cash, debit and credit cards, and monthly invoicing for account holders.
- Corporate Account Services: Business accounts with over 1000 corporate clients including Northern Rail, Manchester City Council, and Manchester United. Services include priority booking, password-protected accounts, detailed weekly/monthly invoicing, and preferable rates.
- Premium Airport Transfers: Airport transfer services from Manchester Airport and London Stansted Airport with competitive pricing and no hidden fees. Service available 24/7.
- Business Infrastructure Services: Free phone installations for businesses (pubs, clubs, hotels, restaurants, leisure centres, hospitals), intercom systems at student accommodations, and cigarette bin distribution - providing businesses with prioritised taxi booking lines.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Taxi Service |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Student Discount |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | App Rewards |
| Subscription | Monthly | Corporate Account |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Street Cars product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Street Cars Manchester is a private hire taxi operator providing on-demand and pre-booked ground transportation across Manchester and to/from Manchester and Stansted Airports. Services include Standard (Toyota Prius), Executive (Mercedes E-Class), and Minibus (Mercedes V-Class) vehicle tiers, supplemented by corporate travel accounts, personal travel accounts, student discount programs, and business infrastructure services such as freephone installations and intercom booking systems.
Product overview
Street Cars Manchester is a private hire taxi service operating as a single unified service platform offering multiple vehicle tiers (Standard, Executive, Minibus) and supplementary service modules. The core offering centers on on-demand and pre-booked private hire transportation throughout Manchester, with dedicated airport transfer services at Manchester and Stansted Airports. The service is augmented by account-based modules for both business and personal travelers, a student discount program, and business partnership services including freephone installation, intercom systems, and cigarette bins. Booking is facilitated through phone (IVR), online platforms, and a proprietary mobile application for iOS and Android.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Standard Taxi Service Standard private hire taxi service using Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles, accommodating up to 3 passengers with 2 large bags. Available 24/7 across Manchester.
- Executive Taxi Service Premium private hire taxi service using Mercedes E-Class vehicles for executive travel, accommodating up to 3 passengers with 2 large bags.
- Minibus Service Private hire minibus service using Mercedes V-Class vehicles, accommodating up to 8 passengers with 4 large bags, targeted at groups and families.
- Airport Transfer Services 24/7 airport transfer service to/from Manchester Airport and London Stansted Airport, including real-time flight monitoring, priority dispatch, and set fares with no hidden fees.
- Business Account Corporate travel account service providing priority bookings, password-protected accounts, detailed weekly/monthly invoicing, preferential rates, staff discounts, and dedicated account management for businesses.
- Personal Travel Account Individual travel account offering priority service, exclusive discounts, ride history tracking, cashless payments, and 24/7 customer support.
- Student Discount Program Student-focused taxi service offering 20% discount on app orders and 10% discount with valid university ID or NUS card, plus the Manchester SU Safe Taxi Scheme.
- Mobile App (iOS/Android) Mobile application enabling real-time car tracking, push notifications on booking status, and cashless payment for iOS and Android users.
Quantifiable outcome
- Operates the largest private hire fleet in Manchester City Centre
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Street Cars
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Street Cars technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Street Cars partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Manchester AirportcoreOfficial Private Hire Taxi Provider for Manchester Airport. StreetCars has desks and cars ranked at all 3 airport terminals, allowing them to hold bookings and only dispatch once customers have checked in. This partnership enables 24/7 airport transfer services with flight monitoring technology.
- London Stansted AirportcoreOfficial Private Hire Taxi Provider for Stansted Airport. Dedicated booking line (01279 211 111) and 24/7 service for airport transfers.
- HiltonflagshipLong-standing partnership with Hilton hotel for guest transportation services, reflecting StreetCars' professional and reliable service standards for hospitality sector.
- Manchester UnitedflagshipCorporate travel services for Manchester United football club operations, demonstrating StreetCars' capability to serve high-profile sports and entertainment clients.
- Manchester City CouncilflagshipLong-standing contract with Manchester City Council for transportation services, underscoring reliability and professionalism required for government operations.
- Lowry (Theatres and Arts Centre)corePartnership with Lowry arts centre for visitor and event transportation services.
- Northern RailflagshipCorporate travel account for Northern Rail rail services, serving daily transportation needs for railway operations staff.
- University of Manchester Students UnioncoreOfficial Private Hire Taxi Supplier for University of Manchester Students Union. Provides student discounts (10% with ID, 20% off app orders) and Safe Taxi Scheme for student safety.
- Manchester Metropolitan University Students UnioncoreOfficial Private Hire Taxi Supplier providing student discounts and Safe Taxi Scheme access for Manchester Metropolitan University students.
- Salford University Students UnioncoreOfficial Private Hire Taxi Supplier providing student discounts for Salford University students.
- Royal Northern College of MusicminorOfficial Private Hire Taxi Supplier providing student discounts for Royal Northern College of Music students.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Street Cars competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Ola Cabs: Global rideshare platform operating in multiple markets including a former UK presence, with comparable corporate and consumer booking proposition. Comparable peer in terms of dispatch technology and tiered service offerings.
- Careem: Middle East and North Africa super-app rideshare operator (Uber-owned) offering chauffeur-driven taxi services plus broader mobility services. Comparable in operating model (dispatch platform + driver fleet + corporate accounts) though operating in a different geography.
- Veezu: UK's largest private hire and taxi platform operator, backed by private equity, with operations across multiple regions. Larger scale player pursuing a roll-up strategy - a potential consolidator comparable to StreetCars but operating at a national, multi-brand level.
Direct peers
- Uber UK: App-based rideshare platform operating across Manchester with both UberX (consumer) and Uber for Business (corporate) offerings. Direct competitor for both B2C and B2B rides in StreetCars' core market, differentiated by gig-driver model and global brand.
- Gett: UK-focused ground transportation platform specializing in corporate accounts and executive black cab/PHV service. Directly comparable to StreetCars' business account proposition and executive tier fleet offering.
- Bolt: European rideshare platform competing in Manchester with aggressive pricing and a growing driver pool. Direct app-based competitor to StreetCars' consumer and corporate offerings.
- ComCab Manchester: Manchester-focused private hire and taxi service operating a chauffeur-driven fleet for corporate and consumer bookings. Direct local competitor with overlapping corporate account proposition and airport transfer services.
- Radio Cars Manchester: Long-established Manchester private hire and taxi operator competing directly with StreetCars in the same city geography. Local-market peer with overlapping product tiers and corporate client base.
- Addison Lee: UK-based executive car and private hire service operating in London and other major UK cities with a chauffeur-driven fleet serving corporate and consumer demand. Highly comparable business model to StreetCars (vetted drivers, corporate accounts, executive vehicles), though at significantly larger scale and broader geography.
- FreeNow (formerly mytaxi): Multi-city taxi and private hire booking app with strong UK presence, including Manchester. Aggregates licensed taxi and PHV fleets onto a single consumer and corporate platform, directly overlapping with StreetCars' dispatch and corporate account proposition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Street Cars social profiles
Digital presenceStreet Cars financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Street Cars leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Street Cars funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Street Cars M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Street Cars
What does Street Cars do?
Street Cars Manchester is a private hire taxi operator providing on-demand and pre-booked ground transportation across Manchester and to/from Manchester and Stansted Airports. Services include Standard (Toyota Prius), Executive (Mercedes E-Class), and Minibus (Mercedes V-Class) vehicle tiers, supplemented by corporate travel accounts, personal travel accounts, student discount programs, and business infrastructure services such as freephone installations and intercom booking systems.
Is Street Cars a public or private company?
Street Cars is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Street Cars founded?
Street Cars was founded in 2002. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Street Cars based?
Street Cars is headquartered in Manchester, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Street Cars make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Metered Taxi Fares are the primary driver. The others are corporate Account Services, premium Airport Transfers and business Infrastructure Services.
Who are Street Cars's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Ola Cabs, Careem and Veezu. Direct peers are Uber UK, Gett, Bolt, ComCab Manchester, Radio Cars Manchester, Addison Lee and FreeNow (formerly mytaxi).
Does Street Cars have an API?
No public API is recorded for Street Cars.
What industry is Street Cars in?
Street Cars's product category is Private Hire Taxi Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAFAHAE, Airport Taxi & Ground Transportation Operators. Its NAICS code is 48531 and its SIC code is 4700.