Quote:
Originally Posted by Dac150
Am I the only one who isn't digging those new taxi proposals?
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I think the consensus is that, with the exception of the Turkish entry which doesn't have a chance of winning, the proposals are very underwhelming. Taxi of the future? Yeah, sure. The only standing American company, Ford, is proposing a slightly modified panel van in the Transit Connect which just recently started sales in the US. The argument is that the NY metro taxi vehicle market and the entire US market isn't large enough to warrant a specialized and purpose built vehicle and the expense factory tooling to manufacture them. I say that's bunk. How and why did Checker do it then and last sooo many years? How to NA transit bus manufacturers who build 500-2000 buses a year do it? What should have occurred here is domestic innovation coming out of the woodwork, including industrial designers and then partnering with major manufacturers. Instead, one US company, who apparently barely made an effort is the likely winner. And the competition was called Taxi of the Future? How hard is it really to change up your body styling and incorporate A/V features like the Turkish bid? It appears they barely got off the couch for this one. A shocking lack of imagination. Pathetic.