TaxiofTomorrow
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NYC's Taxi of Tomorrow hits a roadblock, judge rules city overreached its authority
Mayor Bloomberg, New York's Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) and Nissan have been working to bring the NV200 "Taxi of Tomorrow" to the Big Apple since 2011, but it looks like its planned October 28th launch won't go without a hitch. In a lawsuit brought by Evgeny Freidman and the Greater New York Taxi Association against the TLC, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Schlomo Hagler ruled that the agency can't force taxi owners to buy the Japanese manufacturers' autos. "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," Hagler's decision reads, according to the Wall Street Journal. While this certainly complicates things for Bloomberg and Co., it doesn't mean that the Taxi of Tomorrow's fate is sealed. Naturally, NYC is bent on appealing the decision. "We believe the Court's decision is fundamentally wrong, and we intend to appeal immediately," wrote the city's corporation counsel Michael Cardozo in a statement. If an appeal doesn't change the ruling however, Gotham could be on the hook for a sum in the neighborhood of $50 million or more, which would cover the car maker's design and production costs. According to the WSJ, a city official says they may not have to pony up the cash, as the contract would be rendered void by the court, not New York City's whim. Despite the setback, Nissan says its plan to fill the taxi fleet with new autos hasn't been derailed. "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," a Nissan spokesperson told Autoblog in an email. Something tells us this will be a long legal road, so don't get used to the idea of shiny new rides just yet.
New York City, meet your new official taxi: the Nissan NV200
Back in May, Nissan unveiled its NV200 van as New York City's "Taxi of Tomorrow" in a joint press conference with Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Today, NYC's Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) made the pact official, signing regulations that will replace the city's iconic line of Crown Victorias (and myriad other cabs) with the NV200 beginning in October 2013. As Nissan puts it, today's signing, "officially makes the NV200 the taxicab of New York City." The NV200 van beat out competition from the likes of Ford to take New York City's coveted "Taxi of Tomorrow" award months ago. When Engadget EIC (and gearhead) Tim Stevens explored the NV200 at the New York Auto Show, he called it "a huge advance" over existing taxi stock. And hey, with all those amenities, we can't disagree. Most exciting for commuters: Nissan's NV200 taxi features separate climate controls for passengers, as well as USB slots for mobile charging. "Taxi of Tomorrow" indeed!
Nissan NV200 Taxi of Tomorrow hands-on (video)
It is, admittedly, difficult to get too excited about a ride in a taxi. Taxis tend to smell, their drivers tend to be rather abrupt in their piloting style and there's a good chance you won't be able to find one when you really need it. Nissan's "Taxi of Tomorrow," then, is hardly the most alluring concept car on display at the New York International Auto Show, but it is, however, the one you're most likely to actually get to take a ride in. It's also a huge advance compared to the rather tired 'ol Crown Vic. Join us after the break for an exploration of why.
