Veezu, the Cardiff-headquartered company described as the UK’s fastest-growing private hire vehicle venture, has acquired a stake in Cab9, a London-based booking and dispatch technology provider. Cab9 will continue to operate under its existing brand and leadership, with chief executive Tarpit Grover remaining in post and retaining a significant shareholding. The value of the investment and the size of Veezu’s stake have not been disclosed.
Veezu’s Expansion Strategy
Founded in 2013 by Nathan Bowles and Paul Ragan, Veezu has grown rapidly into what it says is the UK’s largest private hire vehicle business. It now operates in hundreds of towns and cities across the country, is licensed by 63 local authorities, partners with more than 16,000 driver-partners and handles roughly 25 million journeys each year. The company is backed by private equity firm MML Capital, which provided a growth capital investment in 2021.
Veezu’s growth has been driven by a series of acquisitions, reflecting what chief executive Nathan Bowles described as an ambition to build “a truly national network, with a Veezu flag in every region of the UK.” Recent deals include the acquisition of the largest private hire operator in Bedfordshire, Go Cars, in April 2026 – a move that added over 600 vehicles and marked Veezu’s entry into Luton and surrounding areas. In March 2026, the company acquired CabsSmart and Avenue Taxis in Ipswich, strengthening its presence in East Anglia. Other notable purchases include Drive Taxis in Doncaster, Hull and York (acquired October 2024, rebranded to Veezu in May 2025), City Taxis and Excel in Sheffield (September 2023), and Aqua Cars in Portsmouth, which brought Andi Cars, Bridge Cars, Fareham Cars and JetLink into the Veezu Group.
Cab9’s Technology Platform
Cab9, founded in 2018, provides a booking and dispatch technology platform used by private hire and taxi operators both in the UK and internationally. Its suite of solutions includes an automated dispatch system, driver and passenger apps, a client booking portal and reporting capabilities. The company has developed features such as “Workshare,” which enables operators to build a network of ground transport solutions across the UK, and “dynamic zones” for more efficient driver dispatching. Cab9 has previously partnered with mobility services provider Jyrney to integrate platforms and expand booking opportunities, and has integrated with what3words for location-based services. Its technology is developed by e9, a software and application development company; a related entity, Cab9 App Private Limited, was incorporated in Bangalore, Karnataka, in October 2023. Cab9 maintains offices in London and a development centre in Bangalore.
AI and Automation Focus
Through its latest investment, Veezu said it will support the development of artificial intelligence and automation technologies to enhance Cab9’s ability to deliver innovative, reliable and cost-efficient solutions for customers, with the aim of accelerating growth and increasing service provision. The move reflects a broader trend within the private hire vehicle sector, where operators are increasingly investing in AI-powered features to improve efficiency, reduce costs and enhance service delivery. Applications include AI-driven driver allocation, route planning, dynamic pricing and customer service tools such as chatbots and predictive analytics. Veezu will also provide additional investment to support the continued development of Cab9’s platform and services, while maintaining its focus on delivering technology solutions for operators.
Mr Grover, Cab9’s chief executive, said: “This is an exciting next chapter for Cab9 and the strongest leap forward in our journey so far. Over the last decade, we have built technology with purpose, care and a belief that the industry deserves better. That does not change. The people, passion and product thinking behind Cab9 are not going away – they are being strengthened. I am delighted to continue leading Cab9 and look forward to working closely with the Veezu team as we build on our strong foundations and take the business into its next stage of growth.”
Nathan Bowles, co-founder and chief executive of Veezu, said: “Cab9 has built an excellent reputation for delivering high-quality technology to operators across the sector. As Veezu has grown nationally, technology has become increasingly important to our long-term strategy and ability to serve passengers, driver partners and business customers. We are excited to be supporting the next stage of Cab9’s growth and look forward to working closely with Tarpit and the team in the years ahead.”
On the broader acquisition strategy, Mr Bowles added: “We’ve always been clear in our ambition to build a truly national network, with a Veezu flag in every region of the UK. Our expansion into Luton is a strong example of that in action, as we continue to grow a network of local transport hubs while delivering the dependable, community-focused service passengers rely on every day.” The private hire vehicle sector has seen increasing consolidation as operators seek technological advantages to compete with larger players such as Uber, Freenow and Bolt. Veezu is licensed by 63 local authorities across the UK.
