Pathfinder folk opening new truck paths

DETROIT — At the very same time as the CEOs of GM, Ford and Chrysler were pulling up to Washington, D.C. to look for help from the American government, a Japanese automaker was back in Detroit, announcing huge investment in North America, as well as the introduction of a couple of game-changing light-duty trucks.

The company was Nissan, which announced they’re entering the North American commercial truck market in 2010.

And the game-changers: The Nissan NV2500 and the Nissan NV 200, two radically new light-duty high-tech vehicles.

Both were unveiled, in concept stage, at a press conference in Nissan North America’s Detroit design studio in the Motown suburb of Farmington Hills.

Headquarters for Nissan’s commercial vehicle (CV) operation in Canada will be in Mississauga, Ont., and the Nissan plant in Canton, Mississippi, will be the manufacturing base for the North American truck operation.

The NV2500 panel truck will probably be powered
by a Cummins V8 and driven via a five speed automatic

Nissan already sells commercial vehicles in 73 percent of the world’s markets, including Japan, Europe, Mexico and the Middle East. Currently, Nissan plans to compete in classes one through five. There are no plans for heavy-duty Nissans.

"Globally," says Nissan’s Jeff Parent, who is heading up the newly formed Canadian team "the CV business is a substantial part of Nissan’s sales and profitability, and this vast experience and knowledge will be leveraged within the Canadian market.

"Our entry into commercial vehicles is a testament to Nissan’s vision for its Canadian operations and its commitment to addressing the needs of commercial customers in Canada."

The company also announced plans to partner with Cummins for powertrains and ZF Friedrichshafen AG for the trannies in the new vehicles. Also, the new commercial trucks will be distributed and serviced through the company’s existing network of 150 dealers.

At the announcement Thursday in Detroit, the automotive media, including Today’s Trucking, got a glimpse of what the Nissans might look like when they first hit the streets in 2010.

An outer-space bar: The 2500 has a laser keyboard
in its built-in computer.

Exhibit A was the NV2500, a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive panel truck built on a Nissan Titan frame. It will probably be powered by a Cummins V8 and driven via a five speed automatic and as shown, it was tricked out as a worksite cargo hauler-cum-worksite mobile office.

The prototype debuted with a computer work station, wireless laser blueprint printer, fold-down conference table, storage compartments, cargo/tool tie-down racks, a near-six- foot walk-through interior height and an awning-style side panel that opens to create a standing outside work table.

The other star of the event was the proposed NV200, a 111-in.-wheelbased truck barely larger than a Harley Fatboy, designed for urban delivery. Its drop-dead features included the extendable storage space, or pod, and a rooftop solar-panel that powers the slew of cool features such as the roof mounted solar panel the vehicles accessories.

The Nissan NV200 Concept originally debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show and has also been displayed at motor shows in Europe.

The first Nissan commercial vehicles will hit North American streets in time for the 2011 model year, which coincides with the company’s 75th anniversary.