What year did the Chevy City Express come out?
The Chevy City Express first appeared in late 2012 as the 2013 model-year van.
The City Express is a badge-engineered version of the Nissan NV200 built for North American buyers through a GM–Nissan collaboration, marketed by Chevrolet as a compact in-city cargo van.
Origins and launch timeline
To understand when the City Express came out, it helps to know its roots. GM partnered with Nissan to adapt the NV200 for the North American market, producing it in Mexico for Chevrolet’s dealership network. The vehicle was introduced in 2012 with sales beginning late in the year, entering the 2013 model year as Chevrolet’s entry in the small commercial van segment.
Below is a concise timeline of its introduction and production window:
- 2012: Chevrolet announces the City Express as a North American compact cargo van based on the Nissan NV200.
- Late 2012: On-sale timeframe begins for the 2013 model year in the United States and Canada.
- 2017: GM ends production of the City Express after the 2017 model year.
In short, the City Express arrived in late 2012 as a 2013 model year and remained in production through the 2017 model year.
Market presence and discontinuation
The City Express was positioned in the United States and Canada as a compact commercial van, competing with small vans like the Ford Transit Connect and the Ram ProMaster City. It was produced at Nissan’s Cuernavaca, Mexico plant as part of the joint venture with GM. After 2017, Chevrolet did not replace the City Express with a direct successor in the small van segment in North America, and GM redirected its focus to larger vans and other platforms. The Nissan NV200 platform continued in other markets and under Nissan branding where offered.
In-market context: the City Express represented GM’s effort to offer a low-cost, fuel-efficient option for small businesses, but its sales did not meet expectations, contributing to its relatively short life in the U.S. and Canadian markets.
Summary
The Chevrolet City Express debuted in late 2012 (as a 2013 model year) and was produced through the 2017 model year. It was a badge-engineered Nissan NV200 built in Mexico as part of a GM–Nissan collaboration, serving North American small-business customers before being discontinued without a direct replacement in Chevrolet’s lineup.
