Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) are a category of vehicle that is often overlooked by mainstream media outlets from a feature point-of-view. This comes down to the fact that feature fitment, or penetration, is of relatively less importance to many buyers of commercial vehicles when compared against payload size or weight limits for vehicles that have a primary function of transporting goods.

Now, using data exclusively from VehiclePlannerPlus, LCVs can be viewed from a feature rich standpoint – highlighting key areas in comfort, convenience, and safety that vehicles may exceed or fall short of the industry standard.

For this analysis, an LCV is classified as coming from any one of these vehicle categories:

• Pickup truck – Heavy Duty
• Van – Passenger
• Van - Cargo

In this insight, LCVs will be analyzed on their availability, penetration rate, and fitment of the features listed below:

• Navigation System
• Android Auto
• Apple CarPlay
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Forward Collision Warning / Avoidance
• Blind Spot Monitoring
• Lane Departure Prevention
• Wireless Charging
• Heated Drivers Seat
• Ventilated Drivers Seat
• Moonroof / Sunroof

Market Availability

The below chart highlights the availability as a percentage of trims in the market, for the features listed above, for the period of 2016 – 2021. To view a specific feature, hover over its line and it will become easier to view.

A couple of key points that can be taken from this chart include the relative stability of long-available features, such as ventilated seats, navigation system and moonroof / sunroof. Safety and technology features, such as ACC, BSM, LDP, and Android Auto / Apple CarPlay have also seen a sharp growth in availability over the time period in question.

 

Market Penetration

The below chart showcases the market penetration of the 11 features for the years 2019 and 2020.

Looking at this in a similar way to market availability, it is common to have proportionate growth in availability and penetration for features and, in this instance, this is mostly true. However, while it has been seen that adaptive cruise control is become increasingly available in the market, the penetration rate is currently not following suit. This could be due to either a steep cost associated with it, or simply a lack of demand for vehicles that tend to be driven in a stop-start fashion.

Feature Fitment Strategy

The below series of charts showcase the fitment strategy of the 11 features in this newsletter. The left-hand chart shows the market standard fitment percentage, and the right-hand chart shows the market optional fitment percentage for the feature selected from the drop-down menu. This data has been shown from the period of 2016 – 2021.

A key trend that can be noticed from these charts is the sudden uptake of standard and optional fitment in ADAS related features in the years 2020 and 2021. This is highlighting the fact that safety in LCVs is becoming a lot more prevalent and desired by the consumer, or companies, who purchase these vehicles.

The Best Performers

Below, each feature will be analyzed to show which models from which OEMs offer the highest penetration rate – allowing the vehicles that are offering the most to the consumers to come to the forefront.

Navigation System

1. GMC Sierra 3500HD – 85%
2. GMC Sierra 2500HD – 82%
3. Nissan NV Passenger – 71%

Android Auto

1. GMC Sierra 3500HD – 100%
2. GMC Sierra 2500HD – 100%
3. Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD – 100%
4. Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD – 100%
5. Nissan NV200 – 100%

Apple CarPlay

1. GMC Sierra 3500HD – 100%
2. GMC Sierra 2500HD – 100%
3. Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD – 100%
4. Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD – 100%
5. Nissan NV200 – 100%

Adaptive Cruise Control

1. Ford F-450 Super Duty – 49%
2. Ram Pickup 3500 – 23%
3. Mercedes Sprinter Crew – 23%

Forward Collision Warning

1. Ford Transit Connect Wagon – 100%
2. Ford Transit Crew – 100%
3. Ford Transit Cargo – 100%
4. Ford Transit Passenger – 100%
5. Ford Transit Connect Cargo – 100%

Blind Spot Monitoring

1. GMC Sierra 3500HD – 87%
2. GMC Sierra 2500HD – 83%
3. Ford F-450 Super Duty – 82%

Lane Departure Prevention

1. Ford Transit Passenger – 100%
2. Ford Transit Crew – 100%
3. Ford Transit Cargo – 100%

Wireless Charging

1. GMC Savana Cargo – 85%
2. Ford Transit Connect Cargo – 82%
3. Chevrolet Express Passenger – 56%

Heated Drivers Seat

1. GMC Savana Cargo – 89%
2. Ford Transit Connect Cargo – 87%
3. Ford F-350 Super Duty – 73%

Ventilated Drivers Seat

1. GMC Savana Cargo – 86%
2. Ford Transit Connect Cargo – 83%
3. Ford F-350 Super Duty – 54%

Moonroof / Sunroof

1. GMC Savana Cargo – 76%
2. Ford Transit Connect Cargo – 68%
3. Ford F-250 Super Duty – 53%