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By William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

May 14, 2013

Please do not adjust your monitor. What you are seeing here is real (well somewhat). This is the new 2015 Chevrolet City Express which will go on sale next fall - and yes, it's a Nissan NV200 wearing Chevrolet badging.

"Our fleet customers have asked us for an entry in the commercial small van segment, so this addition to the Chevrolet portfolio will strengthen our position with fleets and our commercial customers," said Ed Peper, U.S. vice president of GM Fleet and Commercial Sales in a press release.

The City Express comes equipped a 2.0L four-cylinder producing 131 horsepower and 139 pound-feet of torque. This is mated to a CVT.

Pricing will be released at a later time.

Source: GM

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected]or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

Press Release is on Page 2

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GM to Source Small Cargo Vehicle from Nissan for U.S., Canada Markets

DETROIT and NASHVILLE, Tenn. – General Motors Co. and Nissan announced today the companies have signed an agreement for Nissan to produce a small cargo vehicle that GM will sell in the United States and Canada.

GM will procure the vehicle from Nissan and distribute it through the Chevrolet dealer network. GM expects the Chevrolet City Express, based on the Nissan NV200, to be available for sale in the fall of 2014.

"Our fleet customers have asked us for an entry in the commercial small van segment, so this addition to the Chevrolet portfolio will strengthen our position with fleets and our commercial customers," said Ed Peper, U.S. vice president of GM Fleet and Commercial Sales.

Joe Castelli, Nissan vice president, commercial vehicles and fleet added, "Working with partners to expand markets for our innovative products enhances Nissan's growth and manufacturing efficiency by leveraging our capacity to meet growing demand in this space."

Nissan currently sells a version of the vehicle as the NV200 in numerous markets globally, including the United States and Canada. The Nissan NV200, a spacious-yet-compact commercial vehicle, is a previous winner of the International Van of the Year Award. Cost of ownership for the vehicle is among the lowest in the class due to low running costs, the high efficiency of the engines and drivetrains and a safety structure that helps to minimize crash damage.

The price of the Chevrolet City Express will be announced later.

Chevrolet Enters Small Cargo Van Segment

City Express to arrive in dealer showrooms in fall 2014

DETROIT – Chevrolet announced today that it will enter the small cargo van segment with the City Express to meet the demands of customers in an emerging commercial vehicle segment.

The 2015 City Express, Chevrolet’s first entry into the small van segment in the U.S. and Canada, joins the full-size Express van as part of the Chevrolet lineup in the fall of 2014.

“Our fleet customers have asked us for a small cargo van, so this addition to the Chevrolet portfolio will strengthen our position as the partner of choice for all of our customers,” said Ed Peper, U.S. vice president of GM Fleet and Commercial Sales. “It’s quite common in many parts of the world to leverage available manufacturing resources to bring transportation solutions to market for our customer’s benefit. It’s just smart business!”

Chevrolet’s entry into this segment will allow business customers to purchase all of their vehicles from one manufacturer, and service them through the largest dealer network offering even more convenience for their business.

Designed for small businesses to large fleets looking for a small, fuel-efficient, cargo carrying vehicle, the City Express will be available in LS and LT trim levels.

The LS model has the following features:

• 2.0 liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine
  
• Continuously Variable Transmission
  
• 4-wheel antilock brake system
  
• 15-inch steel wheels with 185/60R15 tires
  
• Gray cloth interior with vinyl bolster wear patches
  
• Fold down passenger seat with seat back tray table
  
• Center console with storage for file folders, laptop, etc.
  
• Upper dashboard mounted storage bin
  
• 40/60 split rear cargo doors (180-degree max opening)
  
• 20 integrated interior reinforced cargo mounting points
  
• Six exterior roof rack mounting points
  
• Six standard air bags
  
• Electronic stability control.
  

The LT model adds the following features:

• Power heated outside mirrors
  
• Power door locks with auto locking feature
  
• Remote keyless entry
  
• Cruise control with steering wheel mounted controls.
  

The City Express offers 122.7 cubic feet of space, along with various packages adding functionality and efficiency for the commercial customer.

• Upfit ready with weld nuts for attaching bins
  
• D-Rings affixed on the floor to allow securing of cargo from side to side and front to back
  
• Floor cover for entire cargo area to protect the vehicle and cargo
  
• Standard dual sliding doors to allow easy access to cargo from either side of the vehicle
  
• Flexible window options to meet the needs of business customers including window configurations for sliding doors
  
• Standard full–size spare tire
  
• Two different wheels with three different appearances
  
• Spotter side mirrors for wider angle vision
  
• Technology package with navigation radio, steering wheel audio controls, USB input, rear view camera, XM Radio and Bluetooth
  
• Appearance package with body color bumpers, mirrors, door handles and chrome grill with black accents
  

The 2.0-liter 16-valve DOHC 4-cylinder engine is rated at 131 horsepower and 139 lb-ft of torque. The engine is preliminarily matched with a responsive and efficient CVT transmission.

View full article

Of all the vehicles that GM produces, in all the world, this move makes more sense? *shakes head sadly*

Desperation.

Really? REALLY!?!

Really? REALLY!?!

Yes

Well if I think about it, I have no real problem with this arrangement. Won't this van be built in America? So it will be readily available. Seems like a pretty savvy move, actually.

Cheaper than federalizing one of GM's current Euro small vans. And quicker... with Ford updating the Transit Connect and Dodge bringing the Fiats over soon, striking the market now will give Chevy a leg up.

The funny thing is that the small van that GM has in Europe for Opel/Vauxhall is a rebadged Fiat Doblo, which Ram will probably be getting a version of soon for a small van (they are getting the Fiat Ducato based Pro Master large van).

Edited May 14, 201312 yr by Cubical-aka-Moltar

The reason why GM used the Nissan van to make a Chevrolet version was for several reasons:

1. The small Euro van market is taking off in the United States. GM needs to be a contender.
2. GM had to act quickly and this was the fastest way to do it.
3. GM already had a van agreement with Renault-Nissan already in Europe.
4. It would take 24 to 48 months to get a new van in the segment to market. GM does not have that time.
5. This buys GM some time to design and create its own van that it will most likely use globally in the future.
6. The Nissan van is already built here in Mexico and federalized. It would be more of an issue and money to bring the Vauxhall and Opel versions here.


The van is based on the Renault Kangoo:

The only thing I do not understand is why GM did not use this vehicle instead:


Chevrolet Orlando:

And why isn't this a GMC ? They are professional grade after all. . .

Yeahbut Denali?

Orlando wouldn't have worked as a cargo van..it has conventional doors and low roof.

The fact is Ford too GM's lunch money with their small work van. I don't even think Ford expected the large response they got.
GM was more than 48 months from having anything ready and could not wait.

Point two is importing a van would have been a major issue. Ford has been importing theirs from Turkey. Yes Turkey. To avoid the tariff Ford imports them with a rear seat and window hence it is a passenger vehicle. Once here they remove the seat and the windows in needed and turn it into a work vehicle. Yes it is cheaper to trash or recycle the seat and glass than pay the tariff.

I am sure GM is working on this vehicle but they could not wait any longer nor could they pull people from other projects as important that still need done.

I hate to see GM do something like this as to me it is a sign of weakness in the public eye but on the other hand they can not afford to have a stake in this segment that is exploding.

Not only was a tariff an issue but was the Opel good for the US regulations or how much investment would it had required and would that money and time spent be better spent on the new platform tailored for this segment.

Orlando was too small and too light to match the Ford. It would have been at a great disadvantage.

The bottom line the Transit was turning into the next Econoline van that dominated for way too long.

Not only was a tariff an issue but was the Opel good for the US regulations or how much investment would it had required and would that money and time spent be better spent on the new platform tailored for this segment.

It would have been confusing if they had brought the Opel Combo van (which is the Fiat Doblo, built in Turkey) since it is coming as a Ram...

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/02/ram-to-get-turkish-built-fiat-doblo/

Edited May 15, 201312 yr by Cubical-aka-Moltar

And why isn't this a GMC ? They are professional grade after all. . .

I'm sure they will slap a GMC badge on some of them to keep the GMC dealers happy. Though 'City Savanna' doesn't really work since a Savanna is a rural pairie or something like that..

Edited May 15, 201312 yr by Cubical-aka-Moltar

The reason why GM used the Nissan van to make a Chevrolet version was for several reasons:

1. The small Euro van market is taking off in the United States. GM needs to be a contender.

2. GM had to act quickly and this was the fastest way to do it.

3. GM already had a van agreement with Renault-Nissan already in Europe.

4. It would take 24 to 48 months to get a new van in the segment to market. GM does not have that time.

5. This buys GM some time to design and create its own van that it will most likely use globally in the future.

6. The Nissan van is already built here in Mexico and federalized. It would be more of an issue and money to bring the Vauxhall and Opel versions here.

The van is based on the Renault Kangoo:

The only thing I do not understand is why GM did not use this vehicle instead:

Chevrolet Orlando:

This.

Odd as it is, it will be a money maker....Will fill that "astro" niche, but much better on gas....

The fact is Ford too GM's lunch money with their small work van. I don't even think Ford expected the large response they got.

GM was more than 48 months from having anything ready and could not wait.

Point two is importing a van would have been a major issue. Ford has been importing theirs from Turkey. Yes Turkey. To avoid the tariff Ford imports them with a rear seat and window hence it is a passenger vehicle. Once here they remove the seat and the windows in needed and turn it into a work vehicle. Yes it is cheaper to trash or recycle the seat and glass than pay the tariff.

I am sure GM is working on this vehicle but they could not wait any longer nor could they pull people from other projects as important that still need done.

I hate to see GM do something like this as to me it is a sign of weakness in the public eye but on the other hand they can not afford to have a stake in this segment that is exploding.

Not only was a tariff an issue but was the Opel good for the US regulations or how much investment would it had required and would that money and time spent be better spent on the new platform tailored for this segment.

Orlando was too small and too light to match the Ford. It would have been at a great disadvantage.

The bottom line the Transit was turning into the next Econoline van that dominated for way too long.

+1

Was talking with a few guys who are on the GM Fleet sales and host the GM Fleet linkedin group and they say a CNG version is also being considered since this van has CNG in Europe. This would meet the needs of cities that are requiring taxi's and inner city deliveries to be on a green source of energy.

I see big potential here for this.

I found that this engine under the Nissan NV200 is rated at 48.6mpg. They also have a diesel version that is rated at 53.3mpg. Chevy should have both engines at launch in addition to the CNG version which is also rated at 48.6 mpg as this could really turn into an cash cow for them as fleets move to fuel efficient service/work mini vans.

Since this is the cargo version of the new NYC taxi, I wonder if we will see Chevy badged taxi versions eventually also.