VAN Management 78

First of all, we must sincerely congratulate the show organizer FEBIAC: the car and motorcycle show was a resounding success. With almost 600,000 visitors and a bunch of five quasi-definitive order forms, the exhibitors could not have dreamed of a better start to 2014. From the average Joe to King Filip and everything in between: everyone was there. But where were the vans? In odd-numbered years, when the show is all about light commercial and recreational vehicles, at least half of the vehicles on display must be commercial vehicles. Given the strong rise of SUVs and other crossovers – recreational vehicles, if you will – the exhibitors make a sport of getting as many of these vehicles on their stands as possible, at the expense of the real vans. In even-numbered years, the vans are even swept under the carpet as if they simply do not belong to the range. Too little bling bling, too few bells and whistles for what is popularly known as the 'big' salon, probably. Exceptions to the regrettable rule: Nissan, which fortunately did show a copy of its future e-NV200, and Renault, which actually showed off a Twizy Cargo. All in all, a missed opportunity, because even the average Joe needs a van for professional reasons. And King Filip... no, not really.