Nissan News: Nissan's 'Taxi of Tommrow' Gets Shut Down By New York's Supreme Court

[William Maley]

William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

October 9, 2013

The New York State Supreme Court may have put a stop to the unified fleet of the Nissan NV200 'Taxi of Tomorrow'. Last night, Justice Shlomo S. Hagler ruled that the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission had no authority of giving Nissan a ten-year contract that makes the NV200 the exclusive taxicab of the city.

"Simply stated, the power to contract and compel medallion owners to purchase the Nissan NV200 from Nissan for ten years does not exist in the City Charter," wrote Justice Hagler.

"We believe the Court's decision is fundamentally wrong, and we intend to appeal immediately. It was well within the TLC's authority to authorize the Taxi of Tomorrow," said New York City's corporation counsel Michael A. Cardozo.

But even if the city wins its appeal, it might be a short-lived victory. The top-two candidates for New York City mayor have opposed the 'Taxi of Tomorrow' plan and might not continue the fight.

“We are disappointed in the court’s decision, but it will not prevent our plan to start upgrading the NYC taxi fleet with the Nissan Taxi of Tomorrow at the end of the month,” said Nissan spokesman Travis Parman to Motor Trend.

Asked about the contract, Parman said, "We are evaluating options for next steps regarding the exclusivity contract.”

Source: New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Motor Trend

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

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[G. David Felt]

This is good for competition and should drive prices down. Otherwise with a lock on the market, there is no real drive for Nissan to have to compete on price and features.

[Drew Dowdell]

While the NV is a good solution to the problem, it is not the only solution. Competition is a good thing.

[balthazar]

Micro look at D.C. here; doesn't matter if it's not within their authority, politicians & business individuals become vehement to impose their opinions on everyone else. Somehow, they know bestest.

[G. David Felt]

If they know bestest, then they should put their Lazy ARse in front of a firing squad and take it like a man since they are protecting the 1% of special interest rather than the American public for who they are supposed to be working for.

Time to clean house and kick em all out.

[Z-06]

Guys, I know this thread cannot be ignored without looking at government intervention that lead to the subject matter, let us keep politics out of it.

[riviera74]

There is a reason the Crown Victoria survived as a NYC taxi ever since Checker went out of business in 1982: Crown Vics were everywhere and they were cheap to maintain. Nissan's Taxi of Tomorrow is the exact opposite! The NY Supreme Court made the right decision and the next mayoral administration would be wise to dispose of this well-intentioned, poorly-executed Bloomberg idea and start from zero. Virtually any CUV can be a taxi in NYC and it should be open to a proper auction rather than the beauty contest that Nissan's idea supposedly won.

[Drew Dowdell]

A big reason for the new taxi design was to better accommodate handicapped people. That said, there should be no reason the Ford Transit Connect or any other entry should be categorically eliminated from consideration. The NV is an excellent entry... just not the only entry.

[G. David Felt]

If they can use the Prius for a Taxi, then the VOLT should also be a taxi.

Best use of the VOLT power-train would be for GM to build their re-badged Nissan Mini Van with the VOLT power-train and use it for Taxi Service.

[Drew Dowdell]

The new taxi requirements will preclude using the Prius... they need to be more handicapped accessible. That's why the NV and Transit Connect were in the running.

[G. David Felt]

So if all Taxi's need to be AD capable, then we still have plenty of options with Mini Vans added to the Transit and NV.

[Drew Dowdell]

Well yes.. but AD capable isn't the only requirement. There were others as well... fuel economy is one of them and I think most/all of the V6 mini-vans were eliminated from the running for that reason. Does Toyota still make a 4-cylinder Sienna?

edit: Nope, they dropped it after 2012

[G. David Felt]

I wonder if you had converted MiniVans to CNG if it would make it even thought the MPG does not change but very clean to run.

[G. David Felt]

So while NYC Appeals this ruling, they did start selling and using these new taxi's of tomorrow. Here are pictures of them. Much better than old taxis.

http://autos.yahoo.com/photos/taking-a-ride-in-new-york-city-s-taxi-of-tomorrow-1374184650-slideshow/

[Drew Dowdell]

There's no reason they can't sell them... they just can't be the sole contract winner

[G. David Felt]

agree, I do like the more open room of these new taxis. Thought the over all layout was nice and roomy considering that taxis have not really changed much in the last 20 years.

[SAmadei]

The Taxi of Tomorrow NV200s remind me of the GM Dustbuster minivans. Seems like a lot of hood and little fare space.

[balthazar]

From dfelt's link : "this vehicle will go approximately twice as far on a gallon of gas as the outgoing artifact. This is a benefit to the drivers, who have to pay for gas."

Right- if ANYONE thinks fare rates are going to decline because of increased MPG, keep dreaming.

[Drew Dowdell]

I never found the taxi rates in NYC to be completely unreasonable.... I don't mind the drivers making a little more money.

A bit disengenous of a statement though since there are already a large number of hybrid taxis running around NYC already. In my most recent trips, none of my taxis have been Crown Vics... They've always been a Toyota Hybrid or Ford Hybrid.