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

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.

2015 Chevrolet City Express Van
Key Dimensions and Specifications

Engine:	2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine
Transmission:	CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission)
Drive Configuration:	Front engine, front-wheel drive
Wheels/Tires:	15-inch steel wheels with center caps /185/60R15 high-load all-season tires
Suspension:	Independent front strut, rear leaf spring, front stabilizer bar
Braking:	Power-assisted vented front disc/rear drum brakes with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
Steering:	Electric power-assisted steering
Wheelbase:	115.2 inches
Length:	186.3 inches*
Width:	68.1 inches
Height:	73.7 inches
Cargo volume:	122.7 cubic feet, fits standard U.S. 40×48-inch pallet
Maximum payload:	1,500 lbs. (estimated)
Seating Capacity:	2-passenger
Exterior Features:	Chevrolet signature front grille, aerodynamic front end design, halogen headlights, black front and rear bumpers, outside mirrors with wide-angle spotter mirrors, low-effort dual sliding side doors, tall 40/60 split opening rear doors with dual opening positions (90 and 180 degrees), available heated outside mirrors (including spotter mirrors)
Interior Features:	Driver-focused front cockpit with fold-down passenger seat that creates a worktop or extended cargo space, driver 6-way manual adjustable seat with lumbar and armrest, 4-way manual adjustable passenger seat, height-adjustable front head restraints, cloth seat surfaces with outboard vinyl wear patches, driver and passenger front door map pockets, power windows with one-touch auto up and down, center console with two cup holders, laptop/hanging file storage, pen/pencil tray and CD holder, 12-volt power outlet on instrument panel, available 12-volt power point in rear of center console, recessed storage areas on upper instrument panel for folders and documents, passenger side under seat storage tray, driver information center, battery saver feature, AM/FM/CD with auxiliary input and two front door mounted speakers, floor mounted cargo hooks (6) in cargo area.
Technology:	Available Chevrolet Navigation System, Bluetooth wireless communications, XM Satellite Radio (subscription required, sold separately), Rear View Camera
Safety:	Six standard air bags including roof-mounted curtain side impact supplemental air bags for front occupant head protection, front-seat mounted driver and passenger side-impact supplemental air bags, stability control, Tire Pressure Monitoring System
* Preliminary specs subject to change