Booming Van Sales Driven By Small Business
In a sign the broader economy is on an upswing, small business owners who use commercial vans in their business are replacing their aging equipment with new vans, fueling a boom not seen since the start of the Great Recession.
USA Today reports as small businesses begin to invest in their companies once more — and with borrowing on the rise with loosened credit now available — commercial van sales rose to over 40 percent since 2010. The winter weather failed to put a dent in sales, rising 9 percent in January as auto sales fell 3 percent in the same period. IHS Automotive, in particular, expects sales to grow 27 percent overall between 2013 and 2015, with over 400,000 units leaving the lot for the wrap shop annually.
Though the commercial van market has been dominated by Ford, Mercedes-Benz and General Motors, more automakers are entering the market with offerings of their own, such as Nissan’s NV series and Ram’s minivan-based Cargo Van. As a result, total small van sales — such as the Ford Transit Connect and Nissan NV200 — were over 53,000 units in 2013, while 259,000 large vans were sold in the same period.
More vans are expected to enter the market this year, including the Nissan NV200-based Chevrolet City Express and Fiat Doblo-based Ram ProMaster City.
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
More by Cameron Aubernon
Comments
Join the conversation
These style vehicles are the pickups of Europe. They have roughly the same payload as a pickup. They are everywhere. It seems the US is looking at more economical and better ways of doing business. If a small business person can save a dollar then why not. The only issue I have is the availability of a small 1.6 litre diesel for the US market. I was just on another site explaining how economic considerations will change the US vehicle market, especially commercial vehicles.
If the small vans are being sold for commercial purposes, which is about $, why don't they offer the much more efficient diesel versions and standard transmissions which are way, way more economical? The manual cost savings is about the same as the extra diesel cost and most tradespeople are not a klutz with the clutch. Not every work truck diesel has to be the $8,000 option that Detroit loves to sell.
Small business has been using minivans, since there's been minivans. Same with full-size vans. Small business, or any company on earth, only buy what they need when it comes to commercial vehicles. They don't buy an 18 wheeler when a medium duty will do. They also don't buy full-size vans when a minivan will do. Minivans aren't taking over the world, anytime soon. Least not America. Yes mid-size minivans and full-size vans are both vans, but let's not oversimplify. It's true consumers are known to cross shop various size/classes of cars, but it's not so true for trucks, especially commercial.
These minis will not be seen as a success until you see tacos being sold from them. The taco trucks that ply work sites are the true economic indicators. When they're downtown, stealing office workers from restaurants, the economy isn't doing so hot. When they're roaming the job sites of brawny men building America, then all is well, especially if these minis can keep the cost of rolled tacos and quesadillas down.