Chevrolet taxi van provides New Yorkers greater mobility

To help celebrate 100 years of the taxi cab in New York City, General Motors is placing into the citys taxi fleet service the only vans approved to transport individuals with mobility-restricting disabilities or spinal cord injuries.

General Motors is dedicated to making automotive transportation easier and more accessible for the millions of persons with disabilities, said John Gaydash, director of marketing for GM Fleet and Commercial Operations. With the debut of our new lowered-floor van for taxicabs, we are giving New Yorkers with disabilities a key element in maintaining independence mobility.

The taxi van uses a Chevrolet Uplander TC (Taxi Cab) that is modified by GMs approved upfitter, El Dorado National. A stainless steel floor that is 12 inches lower than the standard floor offers a full 58 inches of interior height without a raised roof.

By lowering the floor instead of raising the roof we increase accessibility and keep the center of gravity low, which improves the safety of the vehicle, said Gaydash. This creates nearly five feet of height in the rear passenger compartment, allowing both able and less able passengers to enter and exit with ease.

Uplander TC complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Besides public taxi service in New York and elsewhere, the lowered-floor Uplander is designed to be used by airport shuttle services, rehabilitation and extended care facilities, and private livery companies that serve individuals with mobility issues. It meets or exceeds all applicable U.S. and Canadian vehicle safety standards, and is equipped with GMs StabiliTrak electronic stability control system.

Other key features include:

GM launched its Mobility Program in 1991 to help provide transportation options to people with disabilities. On Wednesday in New York, Springboard Consulting and Work Life Matters magazine will honor GM for its dedication to the special needs community. For more information on GMs Mobility program, visit www.gmmobility.com .

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the worlds largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader for 76 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 280,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2006, nearly 9.1 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GMs OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com .

El Dorado National - Kansas (NYSE: THO) is the home of the Mobility Division of Thor Industries, the nations premier manufacturer of commercial and recreational vehicles. www.enconline.com .

Uplander TC (Taxi Cab) Standard Equipment

Uplander TC (Taxi Cab) Optional Equipment

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