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 Nissan North America unveiled its all-new 2011 Nissan NV (Nissan Van), the first entry in this auto manufacturer’s new Commercial Vehicle lineup in North America, at the National Truck Equipment Association’s (NTEA) annual Work Truck Show, in St. Louis. The NV marks Nissan’s 15th nameplate in its lineup; more than 200 dealers will sell the new model, which is a blend of a pickup and a van with two differing heights of roofline and three different configurations. It will be built at Nissan’s assembly plant in Canton, Mississippi, and will go on sale later this year. An all-electric versions will follow.
“We’re introducing a tool to help entrepreneurs and owner-operators work smart and more productively,” said Nissan Americas Chairman Carlos Tavares. “Created and built in America with Nissan’s quality and reliability, the NV is a breakthrough in commercial van design.” Nissan plans to bring a lineup of commercial vehicles to North America, along with a high quality network of dealers across the country, said the executive, who also said the new van will offer a low cost of ownership. Nissan is already well-established in other international commercial markets, such as Japan and Mexico and has sold over 550,000 commercial vehicles over the past decade.
“Our research began in 2004, with customer focus groups, small business owners and large fleet operators, in cities across the U.S., said Joe Castelli, vice president, Nissan Commercial Vehicles and Fleet. “Commercial van owners expect comfort, performance, utility and a low cost of ownership,” said Castelli, “and this is no dog house with compromises.
The rear-wheel drive 2011 Nissan NV comes with a choice of two powerful and fuel-efficient engines – a 4.0-liter V6 and 5.6-liter V8. Both are mated to a standard 5-speed automatic transmission.
 The new commercial van will be available in three models: NV1500; NV2500 HD; and NV3500 HD; and in two roof configurations – a 55.4-inch Standard Roof and a 76.5-inch High Roof. The NV is the first High Roof commercial van to offer rugged body-on-frame construction. Its rugged, masculine design combines a full-length hood with access to the engine for service and maintenance, along with signature Nissan styling cues such as large headlights and vertical grille. The tall, wide doors offer easy access to the cab and cargo areas. High Roof models will allow most users to walk and stand in the cargo area.
The NV’s interior is roomy and comfortable with wide, supportive seating, an expansive instrument panel and ample driver leg space. The passenger seat includes a segment-exclusive fold-down feature, creating a convenient worktable. An available center console offers innovative storage compartments and space to hold binders and a laptop computer. Other convenient storage spaces include a wide overhead console (available with High Roof models) and large door pockets.
The NV also offers exceptional utility, says Nissan, thanks to its 10-ft.-long, 6-ft.-wide cargo floor, square-top wheelwell housings and nearly vertical sidewalls. Along with impressive cargo space in the cab’s ‘mobile office” cockpit, the sidewalls have been designed to accommodate aftermarket storage systems without excessive modification. The cargo area features a full-length inner panel to prevent cargo from denting the vehicle’s outer skin. There are also multiple weld-nut attachment points for mounting shelving and racks.
 “The Nissan NV means business,” said Castelli. “We’ve got a rugged chassis, ample power and fuel economy, a comfortable cabin and a huge cargo capacity. We’re meeting the needs of commercial van owners and operators with innovation and a shared vision.”
More information about Nissan’s commercial vehicles in North America can be found at NissanCommercialVehicles.com.
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