Nissan NV200 to be official taxi of NYC starting 2013

Nissan NV200 Taxi
Nissan NV200 Taxi

Just because New York City is an all-American city, doesn’t mean that it will have it will have to choose a domestic automaker for the ‘Taxi of Tomorrow.’ Nissan announced today that it the nation’s largest taxi fleet has selected Nissan to design and supply the next-generation taxi.

The announcements were made today during a City Hall press briefing that included Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Nissan Americas Chairman Carlos Tavares.

The Nissan NV2000 was selected by New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) as the exclusive taxi of New York City starting late 2013. The award comes after a rigorous selection process that occurred over more than two years.The other two finalists included Ford and Karsan, a Turkish vehicle manufacturer.

“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.”

Nissan said that the NV200 taxi will be built at the company’s facility in Cuernavaca, Mexico and will be a modified version of the compact commercial vehicle. Total manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) of the Nissan NV200 taxi will be around $29,000.

Nissan NV200 Taxi:

Nissan NV200 Taxi

Planned innovations, which respond to direct input from drivers, owners and passengers, 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;
  • A low-annoyance horn with exterior lights that indicate when the vehicle is honking, helping reduce noise pollution;
  • 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;
  • Attractive, breathable, antimicrobial, environmentally friendly and easy-to-clean seat fabric that simulates the look and feel of leather;
  • Overhead reading lights for passengers and floor lighting to help locate belongings;
  • A mobile charging station for passengers that includes a 12V electrical outlet and two USB plugs;
  • A six-way adjustable driver’s seat that features both recline and lumbar adjustments, even with a partition installed;
  • Standard driver’s navigation and telematics systems.

Nissan also focused on passenger safety when designing the NV200 taxi. Key safety features include:

  • Front and rear-seat occupant curtain airbags, as well as seat-mounted airbags for the front row;
  • Standard traction control and Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC);
  • Sliding doors to reduce the risk of pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists getting struck by doors opening unexpectedly;
  • Lights that alert other road users that taxi doors are opening.

– By: Omar Rana