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While the U.S. auto industry reels, Gizmag reports that Nissan will actually be producing a commercial-use version of the NV200 concept we showed you last year.

Just how many of the NV200's innovative features will be incorporated in the production version is not known just yet but the press release hints that it will include Nissan's sliding cargo pod. The pod is latched inside the shell of the load area when the van is being driven, but at rest, it slides out to allow easy access to the customisable storage zones. The pod is deployed using hydraulic rams, and rests securely on drop-down legs. With the pod extended, the area left behind is transformed into a mobile office or other customisable environment.

While we love the concept of the slide-out pod, we should note that this would never work in an urban environment, where vehicles are often parallel parked bumper-to-bumper.

Perhaps if it slid out sideways, onto the sidewalk?

If you suburbanites want to see what us city drivers go through, check out the video below. (Warning: You will definitely want to turn the sound off for this one.)

Parallel parking a VAN with 4 inches free space - Watch more free videos