Nissan wins NYC taxi contract

[Falcon_LS]

Nissan wins NYC taxi contract

I'm a little confused about the politics here. The US Government helped bailout two major automakers not that long ago, and neither of them were even in this 'competition'. The only one they didn't bailout, FoMoCo, actually was and lost.

So the United States isn't protectionist, but considering the current circumstances of the American economy, wouldn't it have been a better choice to have the Big Three compete against each other for this contract? $1 billion is a lot of USD to be giving away.

 

[FowVay]

That's why it's a competition. If it's going to be dictated who can play then it's not really much of a game.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I'm already philosophically against a city dictating what types of vehicles its private-venture cabbies can drive. Stacking the deck to a certain number of automakers is even worse in my opinion. Ironically, as GM recently says in its television ads, "may the best car win".

 

[FL_Rob]

The transparent roof and factory wheelchair ramp sold it! If

Ford has any tricks up their sleeves(open salon seating, luxury

runabout style which would only work for NYC/Manhattan)they'd

better use them.

 

[eljefino]

Transit Connect was my first choice but I understand the nissan has more room.

GM doesn't even sell a standard minivan in the US anymore. Hurrah for the TLC demanding a sensible vehicle with lots of space inside and a small footprint outside. IDK if they were making money on the last generation Ventures, and I'm not demanding GM make everything for everyone, but their decision left them out of this game. (Just like dropping the Caprice 9C1 dropped their chances of police fleet sales back in 1996.)

If you look at the pictures, this van has a one-piece front bumper cover and fenders all way around. (Or a good bondo job on the seam.) That looks expensive to constantly fix. Saw a prius cab with rubber bumperettes.

NYC is a center for world trade. They wrote their rules to put NY first. They are not likely as into protectionism as those from a more manufacturing based area.

 

[Trav]

Do the words bribery,payoff,kickback come to mind?

 

[pzev]

Hopefully the driver will be able to hear the passenger speak their destination over the piston slap. I also hope they bring some top-up oil along their routes...

Seriously though, it sounds like a nice roomy option. The only variable is how well it will hold up to NY taxi use.

 

[BigBuck]

Hopefully it looks better than the cube. I haven't seen it yet

 

[Johnny]

Originally Posted By: BigBuck
Hopefully it looks better than the cube. I haven't seen it yet


Well, it looks like the one listed in this thread.

NYC TAXI

 

[scurvy]

Originally Posted By: FL_Rob
The transparent roof and factory wheelchair ramp sold it!


Those features sold nothing - the automaker offering those (Karsan Otomotiv from Bursa Turkey) lost to Nissan as did FoMoCo.

Originally Posted By: 'Reuters'
...
The other two finalists for the concession were Turkish manufacturer Karsan Otomotiv and U.S. automaker Ford Motor Co.
...
Karsan's bid had gained notice because of its design for a transparent roof for better sight-seeing and a ramp that would make it wheelchair accessible off the factory floor.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: Trav
Do the words bribery,payoff,kickback come to mind?


I'd be interested in seeing the proof of your allegations. Otherwise it sounds more like hollow, baseless complaining.

 

[sasilverbullet]

Mandatory BITOG question - so what will the OCI be for it?

 

[Michael_P]

Sell your Ford stock. Between taxi & police, Ford shot themselves in the foot at least for that market segment. Chevy has a V8 RWD car coming and Ford offers a more complex drivetrain. Police will chose low bid, low maintenance. Nissan has proven, cheap worldwide available parts. It has nothing to do with back stabbing, but more to do with penny pinching. You know these guys did their homework on this. Heck! I say bring back a lightweight version of the Checker Marathon. They need to think more like USPS with the LLV's and UPS with standardized trucks. Seeing what I have seen across the globe, Nissan's "Taxi of Tomorrow" will be simple though not spartan.

 

[kb01]

Is it fairly common for big cities to pick what kind of cars taxi companies can drive? What is the logic behind it -- so all taxis look the same and are easily identifiable, or to make illegal taxis stand out?

 

[Steve S]

Originally Posted By: Trav
Do the words bribery,payoff,kickback come to mind?
+1

 

[PeteTheFarmer]

Originally Posted By: Falcon_LS

Wouldn't it have been a better choice to have the Big Three compete against each other for this contract? $1 billion is a lot of USD to be giving away.


Maybe, but understand this is a local government and not a federal government decision. NYC is under no obligation to do what the federal government would do in this situation

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: Trav
Do the words bribery,payoff,kickback come to mind?


I'd be interested in seeing the proof of your allegations. Otherwise it sounds more like hollow, baseless complaining.


Well remember,you are on BITOG

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: kb01
Is it fairly common for big cities to pick what kind of cars taxi companies can drive? What is the logic behind it -- so all taxis look the same and are easily identifiable, or to make illegal taxis stand out?


It varies widely. London comes to mind with using those awesome diesel cabs. Their cabbies have to pass a very strict test, memorizing maps, etc. Could be the tourist heavy places get the strictest cab laws, and the density of NYC helps support cabs-- though I understand locals mostly use the subway. As for illegal cabs, NYC's Taxi & Limo commission has a Gestapo esque rep.

Boston prescribes what paint schemes private cabbies get to use with each company getting different colors. New companies get very ugly livery as it's all that's left. NY bans yellow on non-medallion hire cars.

NYC medallions cost around $450k so the cost of the vehicle is secondary. And, of course, cabbies put up with a whole bunch of bull to keep their medallions. Medallion cabs are the only legal street-hail-able vehicles, which beats calling for a car and waiting many minutes.

 

[Tempest]

There is a list of "approved" taxis in NYC??

 

[Hokiefyd]

Apparently so:

"As of 2008, approved models for use as New York City taxis are:

2009 Ford Crown Victoria Stretch
2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
2009 Ford Escape Hybrid
2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
2009 Mazda Tribute Hybrid
2009 Honda Civic Hybrid
2009 Lexus RX400h
2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid
2009 Saturn Vue Hybrid
2009 Toyota Prius Hybrid
2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
2009 Volkswagen Jetta Diesel
2008 Autovan modified Toyota Sienna (wheelchair accessible)
2007 Eclipse Mobility modified Dodge Caravan (wheelchair accessible)
2008 Freedom Motors modified Toyota Sienna (wheelchair accessible)"

That's from this Wikipedia article.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Before I looked that up, I didn't even know there was a long wheelbase version of the Panther.