The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission issued a request for proposal (RFP) for companies to submit plans for the Taxi of Tomorrow. The City is inviting public input on the website www.nyc.gov and an announcement of the winning design is expected in 2011. The company that receives the bid will have exclusive selling rights to the New York City taxi market for a ten year period, an estimated 2,650 vehicles per year.

Karsan is a publicly-owned international company that has produced over 4 million vehicles for more than 40 years for major international brands including Hyundai, Fiat, Peugeot, Renault, Citroen and others. Karsan has particular expertise in urban transit vehicles.

New York’s project is unique in the world and we believe it represents the single greatest opportunity to design a unique, sustainable, accessible vehicle that will become the model for modern taxi service around the world.  With 40 years in the motor vehicle manufacturing business combined with our expertise in designing, engineering and building urban transit vehicles, it makes Karsan uniquely qualified to serve as New York City’s partner on this project.

Highlights of the Karsan taxi design include:

• Specifically designed as a passenger vehicle for urban use, with no retrofitting or adaptation of any existing vehicle.
• Entire roof of the vehicle is made of glass, allowing unobstructed views of New York’s skyscrapers
• Flexible seating for four passengers, with comfortable, roomy seats, WiFi capabilities, and Internet access.
• Additional cabin space for strollers, luggage and shopping bags. 
• Purpose-built, 100%  ADA compliant, illuminated wheelchair ramp on both sides of the vehicle, specialized handrails and restraint systems, and doors that open wide to 90 degrees.
• Ample space in the vehicle for wheelchair maneuverability and a dedicated area designed for the comfort of guide dogs and other service animals.
• Keyboard/screen communications for the hearing impaired and braille displays for the visually impaired.
• Flexibility for the most sustainable engine mode available (compressed natural gas [CNG], all electric, or gas-electric hybrid), with easy switching capabilities from one to another.

Since the Checker cab, there hasn't been a custom designed and built taxi, apart from the London Taxi. No manufacturer in the world is currently focusing on this. This is a historic opportunity for New York City. New York City once had a beloved image known world-wide that was also roomy and comfortable. We intend to bring that back.

The beauty of the design is that it was "born" as a taxi. This is not generic passenger vehicle that would be retrofitted to be made into a taxi. It is also a unique "iconic" design, not something that is already operating as a taxi on the streets of other cities. The V1 is specifically designed to meet the needs of the people who live and visit New York City

By designing a purpose-specific vehicle, we are able to give the taxi the built-in flexibility to adopt the most sustainable engine available at any given time.  For instance, the Karsan V1 was designed to be equipped with a compressed natural gas engine, a gas/electric hybrid power plant, or an all electric drivetrain, as each evolves to be more efficient and sustainable. The socially responsible nature of the V1 doesn’t stop with the environment. It will be the only totally ADA compliant taxi coming off of an assembly line anywhere in the world. We at Karsan share Mayor Bloomberg’s vision that the taxi of tomorrow must be adaptable to the needs of society over time and that is precisely what the V1 is designed to achieve. Plus, the V1 has been specifically designed and engineered with a large percentage of it being recyclable.

NYC taxi passengers will be able to have a comfortable, spacious, safe taxi ride that accommodates many of the things that current taxis cannot easily accommodate, including shopping bags, strollers, and even Seeing Eye dogs, if necessary. Also, the passenger area will be outfitted with user-friendly technology that will enable riders to "stay connected" or be entertained during their trip.

Most importantly, the Karsan fleet is fully accessible and compliant with the historic Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), allowing easy transportation for those who are disabled (and making New York City the first city in the world with a taxi fleet that is ADA compliant). Currently, fewer than 300 of New York City’s 13,000 yellow cabs are wheelchair accessible, putting this basic mode of city transportation out of reach for thousands of New Yorkers and visitors.  With the Karsan design, New York can become the world capital of accessibility.

The Taxi and Limousine Commission sets the fares for New York City taxis. 

Absolutely. The Karsan design Taxi of Tomorrow is sustainable and environmentally friendly, as befits a state-of-the-art vehicle.  The Karsan taxi is flexible for operations with a compressed natural gas (CNG) engine, or an electric engine. 

The V1 is currently being readied for manufacture in Turkey, though nearly 50% of the parts are to be made in the USA.  In fact, up to 75% of the parts could be sourced in the USA, so the prospect of the V1 being “made in America” is certainly open to consideration at the appropriate time.

The V1 was designed in Turkey by our large and experienced team of engineers and designers. We are very excited about the rave reviews we have seen from New Yorkers who have participated in polls and surveys about the proposed designs.

Absolutely. We believe that New York City is on the cutting edge with its Taxi of Tomorrow project. We believe this will be a successful reimagining of the modern taxi and serve as an inspiration for other urban cities, each of which will have their own unique exterior design.