General Motors is getting into the small cargo van business, with a little help from Nissan.
The automaker today unveiled plans to introduce a Chevrolet version of the Nissan NV200 next year.
Details are scarce, but based on the photos released with the announcement, the Chevrolet City Express looks nearly identical to the NV200, aside from logos and a new front fascia.
The NV200 currently competes with the Ford Transit Connect in the quickly growing compact van segment. Ram is also expected to offer a Fiat-based small van next year.
The NV200 has a cargo capacity of 122.7 cubic feet, is powered by a 131 hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and is expected to get an EPA rating of 24 mpg combined. It also forms the basis for New York City’s Taxi of Tomorrow.
The starting price for the NV200 is $20,985. It's built for the U.S. market at the company's factory in Cuernavaca, Mexico.
No word yet on how much the City Express will cost, as it isn’t expected to go on sale before Fall 2014.
Around that same time, GM will also be introducing a new lineup of small pickup trucks to replace the out of production Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon as the automaker looks to improve the expand the number of offerings and fuel economy of its commercial fleet.