Nissan Unveils More Competition in the U.S. Commercial Vehicle Space

Announcing Nissan’s Entry into the US Commercial Truck Business
By Steve Purdy
TheAutoChannel.com
Detroit Bureau

Nissan opted out of the Detroit auto show this year but they assembled the press anyway a few weeks ahead of the show for a different kind of introduction. They had two concept vehicles they were dying to show off. But these were commercial vehicles, not automobiles.

You may not be aware of this (I wasn’t), but it seems Nissan is a major player in the commercial vehicle market all over the world but not in the US. But they’re coming soon. Why did they save us for last? There didn’t seem to be a ready or convincing answer, but Bruce Campbell, Nissan’s VP of design, told me they just never had an appropriate platform for this market. I was surprised to learn that the underpinnings of trucks for other parts of the world do not necessarily translate to practicality here.

Based on Titan architecture this stylish, white NV2500 Concept is very close to what will be built in the US beginning in calendar 2010 for the 2011 model year, though certainly not with all the novel details of the concept truck they showed us at the design center in Farmington Hills. Nissan promises three new commercial vehicles in the first three years. The long range plan is to offer something in all truck categories up to class-5. Class-5, or “medium duty,” refers to trucks with gross vehicle rating between 16,000 and 19,500 pounds, like large walk-in trucks, box trucks and tow trucks. This one is the size of a large GM or Ford cargo van.

The NV2500 Concept is configured as a construction supervision vehicle suitable for Habitat for Humanity, with whom Nissan has a charitable relationship. The “3-Zone” design includes an office space with computer workstation, fold-down conference table, cubbies and storage in every nook and cranny, cargo racks, nearly six-foot interior height and an awning-style side panel that opens into an outside work table, and open cargo area in the rear with lots of 110/220W electrical outlets.

The driver/passenger zone up front features a great deal of utility as well with an overhead storage area and cooling fan powered by the solar panel integrated into the roof. The passengers seat swivels and slides into position at the computer desk, and a little mud room resides behind the driver’s seat.

All of these slick, creative, utilitarian details are icing on the cake, of course, unreflective of what the first trucks will actually be. Like other concept vehicles it just reflects what can be done with a vehicle of that configuration. The news here is that Nissan will be in the 1-million-unit-per-year commercial market.

Deals have been worked out with ZF for transmissions and Cummins for engines. These first three models will be built in the Canton, MS plant displacing some of the products already there. Nissan will spend over $100-million in the conversion.

At the smaller end of the scale the Nissan folks had also prepared a small utility truck called NV200 Concept, on a compact car platform with a unique slide-out cargo compartment. The whole inside of the cargo area telescopes out the rear and is supported by a couple of legs, leaving the entire cargo bay empty for office, sleeping or other uses, thereby doubling the utility value of the little truck. The NV200 is outfitted as an underwater photographer’s rig and explores many of the creative uses of space featured in its larger sibling.

This little CV is more speculative at this point, but with Ford announcing its intent to bring their tiny, economical hauler from Europe soon they may find that a hot market in which to compete.

It is apparent that Nissan sees light at the end of this dismal US economic tunnel. I guess someone has to exhibit some optimism.