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Japan's Nissan Motor has won a contract to provide the next generation of New York's famous yellow taxis.

The deal, which is estimated to be worth $1bn (£607m) was announced by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

The design will be based on Nissan's NV200 minivan model.

The van, which beat US carmaker Ford Motor and Turkish manufacturer Karsan Otomotiv for the 10-year contract, will be phased in starting in 2013.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg acknowledged the Nissan NV200's boxy form evokes suburbia, but he said the yellow paint would give it the iconic New York touch.

The vehicle features an overhead window to offer views of city skyscrapers, and charging stations for mobile phones.
'Best fit'

"For the first time, we'll have a taxicab that wasn't 'off the rack', but rather custom-tailored to create the best fit for the drivers, owners and passengers of our city," Taxi and Limousine Commissioner David Yassky said.

"People are going to fall in love with this taxi once they ride in it. It is going to represent New York City well."

The car will also feature satellite navigation, so passengers leaving the main Manhattan corridors will not have to contend with drivers who do not know their way around.

The Nissan was the most fuel-efficient and the cheapest of the three finalists, at about $29,000 (£17,608) per vehicle.

By 2017, Nissan will be able to manufacture the cars to run solely on electricity, New York City Hall said in a statement.

The bulk of the current fleet are Ford Crown Victorias, a car which only does about 12 miles per gallon, compared with 25 miles per gallon for the Nissan NV200.

New York's 13,000 yellow cabs carry about 600,000 passengers a day, and are the only vehicles permitted to pick up passengers off the street.

The NV200, which will be built in Nissan plants in Mexico, is the first to be designed specifically for use as a New York City taxi.

All hail the satellite navigation! 

All hail the satellite navigation! 


screw that....it has CELL PHONE CHARGERS!!!!!


;D

Couldn't find one made in U.S.A.  ???

All hail the satellite navigation! 


We had problems with sat nav not working because the tall buildings blocks the signal

Do cabbies have to do 'the knowledge' like London Cabbies do?

Admittedly it wasn't a New York cab, but one from New Jersey (we stayed in Seacaucus).  Anyhow he couldn't find Battery Park.  In the end Dai navigated for him!

Couldn't find one made in U.S.A.   ???


Here's your answer, taken from Philip's post

"The Nissan was the most fuel-efficient and the cheapest of the three finalists, at about $29,000 (£17,608) per vehicle.

By 2017, Nissan will be able to manufacture the cars to run solely on electricity, New York City Hall said in a statement.

The bulk of the current fleet are Ford Crown Victorias, a car which only does about 12 miles per gallon, compared with 25 miles per gallon for the Nissan NV200."

Money talks

And it will be available by 2013,2014.

screw that....it has CELL PHONE CHARGERS!!!!!


;D



and mini tv's.

and mini tv's.



I didn't read that in the post....

We had problems with sat nav not working because the tall buildings blocks the signal

Do cabbies have to do 'the knowledge' like London Cabbies do?

Admittedly it wasn't a New York cab, but one from New Jersey (we stayed in Seacaucus).  Anyhow he couldn't find Battery Park.  In the end Dai navigated for him!


NY cabbies are THE WORST!  Half of them don't know where they're going and the other half will try to "take you for a ride" if they think you don't know where you're going!

Battery Park isn't hard to find, even if you're from New Jersey - shame on him!

I didn't read that in the post....


Most cabs already have the mini tv's, but they're pre-recorded news items, or loops of the weather...

Most cabs already have the mini tv's, but they're pre-recorded news items, or loops of the weather...


Man they should have that in our cabs here. I know they don't insanta Barbara. They might now in la & sf.  Last time I took a cab tho was in LA in 2001.

I rarely ever take a cab as the train is always quicker.

Most cabs already have the mini tv's, but they're pre-recorded news items, or loops of the weather...


cabs should also have free bottles of wine and caviar. :D

I rarely ever take a cab as the train is always quicker.


I take the city bus.

and mini tv's.


The mini tv's are to distract you from the fact that they are driving from Brooklyn to Manhattan by way of Poughkeepsie.

The mini tv's are to distract you from the fact that they are driving from Brooklyn to Manhattan by way of Poughkeepsie.


then they don't deserve a tip.