DETROIT — Asked recently how the U.S. minivan market has been faring, Nissan Motor Co.’s Dominique Thormann had a concise answer.

“It collapsed,” said Thormann, a senior vice president of Nissan North America.

While the rapid sales decline of pickup and sport utility vehicles has been grabbing the headlines, minivan sales have also taken a tumble, falling 20% during the first five months of this year.

And unlike trucks, which could rebound once the construction industry picks up, it’s unclear whether minivans have a future in the U.S. market or whether they’re being killed off by crossovers and the stodgy taint of the soccer-mom image.  read more »