Nissan NV200 – New York City’s exclusive new taxi

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By Tim Beissmann | May 06th, 2011

If you catch a cab in New York City between late-2013 and 2023, it will be one of these: a Nissan NV200.

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission has awarded Nissan the exclusive rights to the city for the 10-year period, in what is being referred to as the ‘Taxi of Tomorrow’ program.

The New York City taxi fleet is the biggest in the US, with more than 13,000 cabs on the road. The vehicles are responsible for transporting more than 600,000 passengers every day. The average NYC cab covers 60,000km every year.

The NV200 taxi will be produced at Nissan’s assembly plant in Cuernavaca, Mexico. It will be powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which Nissan promises will be fuel efficient with low emissions.

The NV200 is designed to transport four passengers and their luggage. It has sliding doors (for enhanced pedestrian and cyclist safety) with side steps and grab handles for ease of ingress/egress.

The roof is transparent with a shade and was designed to give a unique view of the city.

The introduction of the Nissan cabs is set to make the streets of New York significantly quieter, and probably brighter. It will feature a ‘low-annoyance’ horn linked to the headlights. The lights will flash in tandem with the softer horn in an attempt to reduce noise pollution.

The NV200 will be safer than ever, with six airbags and ESC fitted standard, and it will come with more cabin technology, including a 12V electrical outlet and two USB ports for passengers to recharge phones and appliances, and a navigation and telematics system for the driver.

As part of the program, Nissan will also add six of its LEAF electric vehicles to the existing fleet in 2012 to study the viability of EV taxis.

Sambo

Much better than the crown vics imo. But what about the luxury taxi segment in new york? lots of them around.
Baddass

Obviously taxis have to withstand a lot of abuse inside (vomit, dirty shoes, cigarette burns in the seats, etc) but could they make the interior any more grey? It looks like a deeply depressing place to spend time.
Brett

It just doesn’t say New York to me. I know the old Crown Vics are cheap, dirty and inefficient however they are an icon of the NY street scape and I will miss them. True, they have been gradually falling in numbers to be replaced by hybrids of various brands but none of the current crop of cars is quite so gormless as this Nissan.
andronicus

This looks ugly and bland but its design serves a purpose.
USB and voltage plugs are a great idea as is the panoramic roof.

Good work NYC and Nissan….but pity that front end looks so stupid.
Hooda

Its ridiculous to allow only 1 company to provide taxis in New York.

Here in Victoria, we have Prius, Falcon, Commodore, Camry taxis.

andronicus

The NYC taxi scene is a little different from the Victorian one Hooda. Can’t really compare the two.

I understand what you are saying about only having one brand and it developing a monopoly but dont forget NYC is basically a compacted metropolis atop an island, they need to do something like this considering how important their taxi fleet is to the day to day running of the city. Also, take into consideration that Michael Bloomberg personally came up with this plan to have car makers bidding on the contract for the entire city…..Im sure he was able to spin this into a nice money making operation for them.

MattP

I was in NYC three weeks ago and the newest Taxis I saw were Ford Escape Hybrids. They looked good and were everywhere.
nickdl

I’m surprised the deal didn’t go to that Prius MPV or one of the Ford Hybrids, surely they’d do a great deal of running around on the electric motor around Manhattan.

andronicus

Toyota did bid, guess they were outpriced.

Prius are pricier than they should be.

Shak

Since our Caprice is one of the candidates that is replacing the Crown Vic Cop cars, why not give it a shot at the NY Taxi scene. GM could throw in one of its mild hybrid systems or even develop it to accept the Voltec system and everyone is happy.

Kenny

For political reason US government institutions like police continue to buy poor quality GM cars. Reliability is very important for taxi cabs so it will have to be a Nissan or Toyota.

Pittsburg

What a stupid comment. Police departments give no care to politics – budgets and reliabity is their number 1 priority. The police cars need to last up to 160,000 miles with as little downtime as possible. A police fleet manager in the US will buy anything as long as its fit for purpose – the American cars win hands down against the Accord and Camry.

andronicus

Are you kidding? Have you ever been to NYC? The last thing it needs is a fleet of bloated Caprice’s driving around. Give me a break.
Despite the picture this Nissan is smaller than a Caprice.

Shak

I know its smaller. And from what i saw when i visited about five years ago, the city is full of Crown Vics. I know that the hybrids and things are starting to creep in, but our Caprice is more spacious, lighter, more fuel efficient(and can be made more fuel efficient), safer, handles and rides better, is more powerful and the list goes on. I guarantee you that most Cabbies would prefer a mid to full sized sedan, as already evidenced by the amount of them on the road.

andronicus

Yes true, Caprice’s more fuel efficient than Crown Vic’s and all the other points too. What I think NYC powers that be were going for was a design that is more user friendly and forward thinking.
In AU, I agree, most cabbies would probably love to be behind the wheel of a Caprice.

Shak

Fair point mate. I guess when your taxi fleet is serving over 600k people, then it should be future proof. Although from my own point, i would prefer a Car with character, then a grey box. Just my personal preference.

DGS

I have just looked at the LTI LX4 on the internet.

These are the latest model London Taxi’s. Made in China now by Geely, they cost about AUD $33,000 with a 5 speed auto 2.5 turbo diesel. Seems like a much better looking package built to simlar specifications. But I could not see the Americans allowing a Chinese made car to become a New York icon.

andronicus

its business…..

Brett

Awesome decision to replace the crown victoria with the Johnny Cab from Total Recall!!
gyyu

light clutch?
Karl Krankschaft

Even though it is more practical than the Crown Vic it’s just lacks the character and American-ness that made them so cool. If you’ve been to Ikea you’ve probably seen the prints of newyork with all the Crown Vics . Imagine the same with mini vans instead. It just lacks character. Considering Americas obsession with ‘merican built cars it’s odd they would use a Nissan rather than one of the new offerings from the Big 3. Probably a fantastic taxi but it lacks the uniqueness of the Crown vics and there appeal.
Paul

With every decade comes change, I sure as hell hope it can take the luggage like a crown vic or London cab can. NYC had Checker cabs for years, right from the 50′s till the late 70′s, there was a TV series made about the goings on. The crown vic will go the same way and the images of cabs will determine the era to some extent, these Datsun cabs better be good and reliable, no one has mentioned how lousy Datsuns reliability has become since the Renault take over (see JD Power assoc latest brand report) Ford had a better result than Datsun and its reliability sure isn’t a patch on what it was, give me a crown vic on propane anyday than a petrol Datsun, most drivers will miss the grunt and the pace a crown vic can muster, can these litle vans handle the pounding NYC roads give out, potholes, undulations, vents etc, crown vics are made on a ladder frame chassis and can handle it, let’s see how they go long term, for me the jury is out.

DGS

Even the Chinese made London Taxi has the advantage you infer: 100% Designed to be a taxi. While the boring body on the Nissan may be functional, what lies benieth? Is it built on a light car floorpan? Does it have light car componatry?

A Taxi is a comercial vehical by every sense. for the mileage they do, the abuse they take, and the demands made of them daily. (bit like the drivers) If not built tough they will fall apart in a couple of years

Force

When I wad in new York and LA I saw many Lexus LS460′s.. How come here in Australia I’ve only seen 5 LS460′s my whole life where as in New York and LA I saw about 100 Lexus LS460′s?..