Nissan has won the bid to become New York's "Taxi of Tomorrow," a project established to find a replacement for the city's iconic yellow cab. The new design will replace the 16 different models now on New York's streets. The 10-year contract is expected to begin in 2013, when older models will begin to be phased out over the next three to five years.
The Nissan NV200 taxi will be produced at Nissan's facility in Mexico and is a modified version of the manufacturer's current compact van. Nissan will provide the taxis from the end of 2013 in a deal which will last until 2023 and is also set to introduce up to six electric Nissan Leafs next year for taxi drivers to try out in a pilot scheme. Features of the new taxi include a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine, “low-annoyance horn with exterior lights that indicate when the vehicle is honking,” transparent roof panel and a mobile charging station for passengers.
Nissan Americas Chairman Carlos Tavares said, “Nissan is proud to provide the next generation of taxis for the City of New York. 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.”
The project to find a new New York taxi was officially started in 2009 by the Taxi and Limousine Commission.