Private hire company Addison Lee has announced a £17 million investment in new cars as it renews 12% of its fleet.

The 550 Ford Galaxy models will join the fleet of more than 5,000 vehicles.

Catherine Faiers, chief operating officer at Addison Lee, said: “This £17m investment shows just how committed we are to investing in a quality experience for all of our passengers.

"We are the leading provider of quality car services and will always strive for the best for our customers.

"The new cars will provide this with increased safety, comfort and efficiency.”

The investment is part of Addison Lee’s growth strategy that is seeing the roll-out of its app as well as several international acquisitions and partnerships.

It also underlines the company’s commitment to environmental technology with the new vehicles exceeding Euro standards and Transport for London’s sustainability guidelines.

The cars are Galaxy Zetec models fitted with smart sensors for better parking and collision safety.

They will also be fitted with the latest Addison Lee driver app that uses real-time traffic information for the fastest route and with data capture technology that monitors car telemetry to ensure nothing but the best experience for passengers.