Mobility Ventures Creates “Empire Taxi” Model for New York

• By Laurie Watanabe
• Jan 17, 2016

No other American city is so closely associated with taxicabs as New York. Those fleets of yellow and green vehicles are part of the city’s life blood – and Mobility Ventures has acknowledged the importance of the city’s taxicabs by unveiling a model especially designed for drivers and passengers.

Mobility Ventures’ new MV-1 Empire Taxi is wheelchair accessible, just like its MV-1 forebear. But in a news announcement, Mobility Ventures said the Empire Taxi also “provides more legroom and luggage space than any other taxi vehicle operating in New York City.”

The Empire Taxi features a built-in, side-entry ramp and seats up to five passengers, including up to two wheelchair users at a time.

To celebrate the new model, Mobility Ventures is offering a driver incentive bonus match to encourage New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) drivers to give the car a try. Mobility Ventures is also offering discounted pricing to drivers.

The TLC is providing taxicab drivers a grant of $14,000 that can be used to purchase any wheelchair-accessible vehicle. Mobility Ventures says that would bring the cost of an Empire Taxi down to $19,000.

Drivers who use wheelchair-accessible vehicles will also be eligible for more TLC incentives, including an extra payment of 50 cents per pickup.

The manufacturer will match that 50-cent bonus for the first 25 drivers who purchase an MV-1 Empire Taxi, Mobility Ventures said.

Mobility Ventures Executive VP Pat Kemp said of the new model, “The unmatched safety, reliability and ease of use of the MV-1 Empire Taxi, combined with this new incentive program, makes it the best choice for taxi drivers and fleet owners now making the switch to a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.”