TAXIS THAT NEVER WERE: Nissan black cab thwarted by electric policy change
In 2014, Nissan had high hopes of reshaping London’s taxi landscape with the NV200. The vehicle, designed to become a modern interpretation of the city's iconic black cab, was developed specifically for London by Nissan Design Europe in Paddington. Drawing from their experience, Nissan aimed to introduce a taxi that would both honour tradition and embrace innovation.
The NV200, based on a multi-purpose platform already proving successful elsewhere, was first revealed in 2012.
Nissan had worked closely with the Mayor’s office, Transport for London (TfL), and other stakeholders to ensure the vehicle met strict regulations for Hackney Carriages, including the necessary 7.6-metre turning circle. This London-specific version was set to launch in December 2014, featuring a 1.6-litre petrol engine, significantly cleaner than the diesel engines powering most London cabs at the time.
To ensure the NV200 was unmistakably a London taxi, the design included round headlamps, a re-modelled grille echoing the traditional black cab's ‘face’, and LED lighting for the taxi sign. Despite these efforts, the project ultimately failed to take off.
In 2017, Nissan Europe Chairman Paul Willcox revealed the reason behind the sudden reversal. The development costs were too high for the relatively small market, and with policy shifts away from supporting this model favouring electric models, Nissan deemed the project financially unviable.
Although the NV200 never hit London’s streets as intended, Nissan did not entirely abandon its vision. In 2019, the company entered the market with the Nissan Dynamo, a 100% electric, zero-emission taxi. Approved by TfL, the Dynamo represented Nissan's continued commitment to sustainable urban transport, albeit under a different guise. Sadly the Dynamo has now ceased production.
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