New York City taxicabs are getting a major makeover.
After a two-year competitive selection process, the Nissan NV200 was selected by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission to become the city's next exclusive taxi, Nissan announced on Wednesday. The Nissan NV200, set to hit the streets in late 2013, will have a mobile charging station for passengers, including a 12-volt electrical outlet and two USB ports, perfect for giving cellphones and other gadgets some juice. For drivers, they'll also include a standard navigation system with an integrated rearview backup monitor.
"New York City cabs have always been iconic, and now they will set a new standard," New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, said in a statement. "The 600,000 passengers who use taxis to get around every day deserve the cutting-edge technology and top-of-the-line safety features that this model delivers."
Dubbed the "Taxi of Tomorrow," the Nissan NV200 will offer room for four passengers and their luggage — a big improvement over current taxi models. On the outside, the taxis will also boast sliding doors for easy entry and exit. On the inside, they'll also have a transparent roof panel, opening side windows, and special odor-resistant fabric. Riders will have access to their own rear air conditioning controls, as well as overhead reading lights, and floor lights to make sure belongings aren't left behind.
The vehicle was designed with input from New York taxi drivers and passengers, Nissan said. It will be on display at the New York Auto Show on Friday through April 15.
Meanwhile, the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission TLC also recently gave the go-ahead to a pilot program, proposed by mobile payment company Square, to replace the televisions in 30 taxicabs with iPads. As part of the yearlong pilot program Square's payments technology is being deployed along with the shiny new tablets, giving riders the ability to swipe their credit card at any point during the trip.
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