You can blame Dodge for starting the battle of the vans. While the basic Ford Econoline has defined these trusty tools for decades, Chrysler’s 2003 introduction of the sporty Sprinter was an overnight hit and drove Dodge’s segment share from 0% to more than 20%. With sales of cars retreating and stimulus money on the way, others now want a piece of the commercial pie.
Though the economy has been lagging, the market for work vehicles has remained fiercely competitive, and the battleground is the urban contractor. This year, Ford was the first to challenge at last month’s Chicago Auto Show with the announcement that its compact Transit Connect will be available in North America this summer starting at $21,475 and next year will feature Ford’s first all-electric powertrain. Shown earlier this month in Chicago at the Work Truck Show, Nissan’s NV2500 Concept also paints a elaborate portrait of a 21st-century van.