Nissan 'Taxi of Tomorrow' may not be NYC's only cab ride

Nissan's love-it-or-hate-it yellow cab is supposed to replace Manhattan's entire taxi fleet within the next decade, but legal battles between cab drivers and the city mean it may not be the only car in town.

On Tuesday, a New York state supreme court judge ruled that the city had overstepped its boundaries by mandating that all taxis be replaced with the Nissan NV200 van, the winning vehicle chosen two years ago under Mayor Michael Bloomberg's "Taxi of Tomorrow" competition.

Currently, despite not being able to buy the discontinued Ford Crown Victoria, taxi owners and companies can buy a wide selection of vehicles including versions of the Toyota Prius, Hyundai Sonata and even the Mercedes ML (see taxi photos here). The latest decision means that cab drivers will be able to choose other vehicles when their current taxis are taken out of service.

Bloomberg isn't pleased with the ruling. According to the New York Post, he told one taxi president that he would "destroy his f***ing industry" if the courts didn't overturn the decision before his term ends Dec. 31. Nissan, obviously, would love every cab to be a Nissan and plans to sell them for $30,000 each. Whether or not you like the idea of sliding doors, that price nets a panoramic sunroof, rear climate controls and USB charging ports — not to mention a lot more headroom.

But as Bloomberg News — an independent news operation from Bloomberg himself — and Car and Driver reported, there is more at stake than just vehicle choice. New York City still has a law that requires a small percentage of taxis to be hybrids, and the NV200 won't be offered in that trim until 2014. The first Nissan vans are supposed to be on the streets by Oct. 28.

Also, since the vans aren't handicapped-accessib​le, there could be other consequences. Another lawsuit claims the city is violating the Americans With Disabilities Act because it is qualifying the NV200 as a car, not a van, which under city law is required to be accessible if used as a taxi.

So it seems no one is happy yet. Unless another fare hike comes up — or everyone straight-up hates the new Nissan's boxy shape — New Yorkers won't be affected by all the infighting.

[Source: Bloomberg; Car and Driver]



Source: MSN