Echoing a similar model-sharing deal with the Renault-Nissan alliance in Europe, General Motors is to rebadge Nissan’s NV200 van to sell in the US and Canada as the Chevrolet City Express.
GM said the new model line should be on sale from autumn 2014.
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“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, US vice president of GM fleet and commercial sales.
Joe Castelli, Nissan vice president, commercial vehicles and fleet said: “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 the NV200 in numerous markets globally, including the US and Canada. A passenger version has been approved for New York City taxi use.
North American versions are built in Cuernavaca, and other plants are in Japan, Spain, China and India. Nissan also builds rebadged variants for Mitsubishi (Delica) sales in Japan and for Ashok Leyland in India.
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By GlobalDataIn Europe, Nissan sells Spanish-built NV200s, replacing the earlier Kubistar line which was a rebadged Renault Kangoo. The larger Primastar is shared with GM Europe (Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro) and Renault (Trafic) but Nissan’s own NV400 earlier replaced the even larger Interstar based on the French company’s Master (aka Opel/Vauxhall Movano) as part of Nissan’s policy of developing its own range of light commercials for global sale.
As part of a strategic alliance with Daimler announced in 2010, Renault last year started building passenger and cargo carrying versions of the Kangoo for Mercedes-Benz badged as the Citan.
