A van is a box on wheels. The shape maximizes interior volume for a given footprint. Passenger vans carry people. Cargo vans carry stuff. Work vans carry tools and ladders. The same basic box serves all three with different windows, seats, and shelving.

Volkswagen's Type 2 Microbus, launched in 1950, made the van a cultural icon. Ford's Econoline and Chevrolet's G-series followed in the US. Modern vans like the Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, and Ram ProMaster use unibody construction, front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive, and tall roofs that let adults stand inside.

Van configurations

• Passenger van: windows, seats, family or shuttle use.
• Cargo van: no rear windows, flat load floor, shelving options.
• Crew van: seats in front, cargo area behind.
• Cutaway van: chassis cab for box trucks and ambulances.

Vans are the backbone of small business. A plumber, a florist, and a delivery driver all rely on the same basic layout. Camper conversions turn vans into mobile homes. Electric vans are now entering delivery fleets, where predictable routes and depot charging make them practical. The box shape is not stylish, but it is one of the most useful shapes ever put on four wheels.