This Chevrolet Van Is No Chevrolet At All
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By the look of it, the vehicle featured here should be considered a Chevrolet van, no? After all, it’s got the characteristic Bow Tie badging, and it’s advertised on a Chevrolet website. However, as it turns out, this is actually not a Chevrolet van at all.
What we’re looking at here is called the N400 Passengers, and it’s designed to carry as many as eight people. The N400 isn’t offered stateside, but is available in a few select Latin American markets, including the Dominican Republic and Panama, among others.
So what makes it not a Chevy?
Well, looking past the Bow Tie badge, we find that the N400 is actually produced by Wuling Motors, a Chinese-based automotive company currently engaged in a three-way joint venture with General Motors and SAIC Motor. Also known as SAIC-GM-Wuling, or SGMW for short, the joint venture has been in place since 2002, and produces a variety of products for foreign markets – including this N400 Chevrolet van.
However, as we said, this isn’t actually a Chevrolet at all. In fact, this Chinese-made vehicle has close to zero (if not zero) General Motors or Chevrolet DNA, engineering, or influence. Rather, it’s developed by Wuling, produced in China, then shipped out to various markets for sale.
To note, the N400 Passengers is powered by a 1.2L DOHC engine producing 81 horsepower, mated to a five-speed manual transmission. It features cloth upholstery, 14-inch steel wheels, and manual front windows, as well as a monochromatic instrument panel and an AM/FM radio with two speakers. The second-row bench seats also folds for added practicality. ABS and EBD are both included.
While not exactly overflowing with standard equipment, the N400 Passengers is relatively inexpensive, with pricing starting at roughly $15,500.
What are your thoughts on this Chevrolet van, which isn’t really a Chevy at all? Let us know in the comments, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet news and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
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Why could’nt a nice looking little Chevy van be sold in the US instead of these wacky looking objects that Ford and GM are selling (GM actually quit theres). If this van was offered in the US with some plush, upgraded interiors and practical drivetrains I bet they would sell……that is if GM would get their Marketing right anyway. GM likes to “spend” tons of money on product developement, design and engineering, then once they are ready for market they sit there and don’t sell because nobody knows about them…so, then the next step is to discontinue what they never started. Colorado Diesel for example, look around in dealer lots, you will do good if you find “one” and sometimes on bigger dealerships will do good to have one or two…watch how soon we will see the colorado diesel being axed because of poor sales. That’s just one for example…..If GM’s vehicles were as bad as their marketing strategies are, they wouldnt hardly sell anything. Ford Ranger, just introduced around a year ago is already soon if not already passing the colorado up in sales and they don’t even have as many configuration options as the Colorado…Marketing…Wake Up GM!!
Jo
Currently available in the U.S. are the: Ford Transit Connect; RAM ProMasterCity; Nissan NV200, Mercedes Metris, Together sales are ~100,000 a year. Most are sold to fleets with bare bones interiors.
I know this because I have secretly wanted GM to build a fullline of Buick Avenir luxury vans. (Small, full-size & Party bus) Turns out the market for these vehicles would be microscopic So I haven’t tried to present an argument online.
That Metris is the only RWD van in its class right now, it looks like a sweet build, but its price tag reflects that by starting around 30k. This is quite a bit smaller than the Metris, but similar in size to the Ford and Nissan (old city express). I guess all I’m pointing out is that this is a unique offering.
You left out one of the coolest parts about this van, that motor is longitudinal and mated to a RWD configuration. If I had 2 kids and a growing family, I would buy something like this over the equinox. I am so glad that something like this exists, does this mean Chinese engineers surpassing American engineers, at least in terms of design, not tech? Unfortunately, I don’t see something like this ever catching on in the States. The breeders here in the states are looking for a pretty CUV with AWD, for reasons they don’t even know, because of being force fed CUV commercials for the past decade.
We don’t need a Chinese van we should be able to make our own and soon
Especially this thing. The N300 (which looks the same to me and was made by the same Chinese company) was scored zero stars on the Latin NCAP.
Zero.
Honestly $15k for a cheap Chinese death trap seems a bit steep.
Jonathan “a three-way joint venture” You don’t think Wuling or SAIC Motors didn’t get their automotive manufacturing know how from GM? What do you think the Chinese governments forced partnership business model was for?
If you going to put effort into finding diggs on GM, go a little further, publish some relevant details, fuel mileage? cargo space and capacity?
Does it meet NHTSA safety standards? My guess is no, but you should have the facts, unless you’re just in it for the dig.
Diggs,…. Couldnt care much less about lil vans, GMs marketing just sucks….good products for the most part. I run a retail/construction business and would love to have a new Medium Duty but no dealer within about 100 miles that can sell or service them…How much sense does that make….O well…I’ll eat crow and go 1/2 mile down the road to the Friendly Neighborhood Ford store…..Sorry for taking this article out of context.
About eight years ago the Nissan NV200 was rebadged a Chevy at Chevrolet Dealers Mainly for the commercial Work van market and it was a total flop trying to compete with the Ford Transit. Not sure if a passenger version was available.
As I recall, back in the late 90s or early 2000s Mercury sold a minivan that was actually rebadge Nissan, too.
I refuse to buy any Chinese build automobile regardless of the badging. I like the Buick midsize SUV but won’t buy it because they make it in China. I three cars in the stable, all GM products and all American made. We need to quit importing Chinese crap.
Looks like a useful competitor to Japanese brands in that category, but for GEM countries only.
GM needs to build a new Astro / Safari on the Colorado platform. How hard can it be to engineer a mid-sized van on an existing and proven platform. There is still insane loyalty to the Astro and clean, rust-free examples bring top-dollar.
This is a money-in-the-bank scenario for GM and it boggles my mind that after all this time, they haven’t seen it.
GM’s concentration on electric cars instead of conventionally powered cars will be the death of them. Electric cars are many years away. There isn’t the infrastructure to support them and there won’t be for a long time. I’m 75 so I’m pretty sure I won’t be buying an electric car in my lifetime and don’t really think my children who are in their 40’s will be either. Those companies that are experimenting with electrics but still building their bread and butter gas models will be the survivors. Gas powered cars are getting more and more efficient because the Japanese companies are investing in their future. GM needs to wake up.
After this covid 19 debacle is over the US hopefully will bring back manufacturing from China. Which is wonderful news.
Wait until President Trump see’s this. He is going to rip Chevrolet a new one because of the made in America campaign and against Chinese goods. Chevrolet really screwed up this time and only 81 hp? Seriously? With passenger’s that thing won’t be able to get out of it’s own way!
Nothing in the article said anything about this vehicle being imported to the USA. If fact, it says the van is intended for foreign markets, most likely Asia
This thing or whatever it is, is a insult to the chevy symbol
They should all be made in AMERICA then exported to other countries
The looked I into this little can the engine is a gm design that was in the Chevy spark and other small cars and the steering wheel is a Sonics….. so it partly designed by gm
I would buy one right now