Nissan has officially become the exclusive provider of the New York City taxi fleet. After an extensive selection process, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) chose the Nissan NV200 van to be the city’s taxi beginning in late 2013.
The Nissan NV200 taxi will be produced in North America at Nissan’s facility in Cuernavaca, Mexico. The van is currently available in other markets around the world, but this will mark the first time it will be available in the U.S.
Among the features planned for the Nissan NV200 Taxi include:
- 2.0L 4-cylinder powertrain, engineered to enhance the emission performance and fuel efficiency of the taxi fleet;
- Ample room for four passengers and their luggage, substantially improved over current taxi models;
- Sliding doors with entry step and grab handles, providing easy entry and exit;
- Transparent roof panel (with shade) that will provide unique views of the city;
- Independently controlled rear air conditioning with a grape phenol-coated air filter to improve cabin air quality;
- A mobile charging station for passengers that includes a 12V electrical outlet and two USB plugs;
- Standard driver’s navigation and telematics systems.
“The city’s Taxi of Tomorrow is the Nissan NV200 – and it’s going to be the safest, most comfortable and most convenient cab the city has ever had,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “We started this process to leverage our taxi industry’s purchasing power to get the highest quality taxi, one that that can expand and redefine the legendary image of New York City taxicabs. The new taxis will be custom-designed to meet the specific demands of carrying 600,000 passengers a day in New York City traffic and the vehicle meets the top priorities identified by the public in our on-line survey.”
With more than 13,000 taxis traveling a cumulative 500 million miles per year, durability was a key factor in the “Taxi of Tomorrow” selection process. Nissan proved that their van was more than up to the task. Additionally, the selection is a boon to Nissan as it bolsters its commercial vehicle offerings in North America.
As part of the program, Nissan has also agree to give up to six 100-percent electric Nissan LEAFs to taxi owners for testing in 2012 as well as the charging stations to support their use. The effort will show how effective zero-emission, electric vehicles are as taxis.
“Nissan is proud to provide the next generation of taxis for the City of New York,” said Tavares. “The NV200 taxi will give Nissan the opportunity to showcase our dedication to vehicle quality and urban mobility to more than 600,000 passengers every day.”
