Nissan NV200 is the New Taxi for New York City

Nissan is introducing what it calls the Taxi of Tomorrow to New York City streets. Beginning next year, the NV200 vans will begin their service in New York, and the NV200 will be on display at the New York Motor Show. 

The NV200 went through a two-year competition through the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission. The NV200, Ford Transit Connect and a vehicle by the Turkish automaker Karsan were the finalists in the competition. The NV200 won due to its large luggage space and area for four passengers, sliding doors, transparent roof, independent rear air conditioning, USB ports, 12v power outlet and flat floor. The vehicle also has an active carbon-lined roof and anti-microbial seats to prevent odor. 

The NV200 Taxi of Tomorrow is powered by a 2.0l, four-cylinder engine with a 150,000 mile warranty. Drivers will be comfortable thanks to a 6-way adjustable seat with lumbar and recline adjustments. It comes with an integrated navigation system with a USB port. 

The Taxi of Tomorrow was safety tested and certified with its partition in place. Both front and rear occupants have separate air bags. Traction control and vehicle dynamic control is included, and it features lights to alert others when the doors are opened. 

"We're proud to introduce a new era of urban mobility to New York with the Nissan NV200 Taxi - New York City's Taxi of Tomorrow. The exclusive Taxi of Tomorrow draws on Nissan's global experience in commercial vehicles, as well as insight from New York City taxi drivers and passengers, who helped identify important improvements over today's cabs. The Nissan taxi will deliver unprecedented levels of innovation and comfort to New York's 600,000 daily taxi riders," said Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn.

There are currently 13,000 taxis working in New York City that cover 500 million miles a year. Nissan is giving six Nissan Leafs to the city for evaluation for a future all-electric taxi. 

The NV200 Taxi of Tomorrow will cost $29,700 when it goes on sale next year, and it will be built in Cuernavaca, Mexico.