INTERVIEW

Fiat Professional strengthens pack on the Doblò …. Scudo too!

The resurgence of the Fiat Professional brand under the parentage umbrella of the Stellantis Group continues with light commercial vehicle model renewals, plus the transition to electrification.

Ahead of the arrival of the new Doblò and Scudo model ranges into the Irish market, some insights were relayed on a recent virtual meeting with Pierre Janthial, Stellantis Enlarged Europe LCV Area Operation Manager & Electrification Business Development, and Danilo Coglianese, Head of Global Communications Fiat, Abarth and Professional.

Both of the new small to medium vans are based on models already on sale from within the Stellantis family, primarily through sister Groupe PSA brands with models such as the Peugeot Partner and Citroën Dispatch. While the Fiat badged vehicles are largely similar and are made at the same factories, Pierre Janthial was keen to emphasise that “Fiat Professional is dedicated to business to business operations, with a broad skill set to meet specific operator demands, and with more capacity to meet the exact specification requirements and aftermarket needs of the customer”.

“In addition, the Fiat Professional LCV Centres, have their workshops open longer hours each day, have the technical expertise and are fitted with all of equipment necessary to service the larger and heavier Ducato variants,” he added.

While many customers of regular Fiat Professional products will opt for a repair and maintenance contract, special vehicles that are not sold directly through the dealer network such as campervans and motorhomes are well looked after by the Fiat Professional network also. The point was also made that a high percentage of the LCV dealership representation across Europe and beyond is shared with truck sales and service centres, which is a big plus also.

The new Scudo will be produced at Sevel Nord in France (the long established Stellantis plant in Hordain, near Valenciennes in northern France, which produces the Peugeot Expert, Citroën Dispatch and Toyota Proace). The return to the Scudo brand name reflected the previous incarnations of this van sold between 1995 and 2016, which were also shared products with Peugeot and Citroën, whereas the vehicle it replaces, the Talento, was a collaboration with Renault based on the Trafic van line.

Commenting on restoring the Scudo name, Danilo Coglianese highlighted the significance of this move backwards to go forward: “The Scudo name has a rich heritage, a great tradition and together with the team at the Centro Stile design team in Turin, we have created a unique look and feel to the van, and featuring the new grille Fiat badge, which in itself reflects on the past and is instantly recognisable,” he said.

The Scudo is the second model from Fiat to feature this striking new badge, seen first on the new 500e.

“A complete change was needed,” he added, “It’s a statement to mark the new era at Fiat and all new vehicles will have it.”

Both Scudo and E-Scudo (the internal combustion and electric powered versions respectively) will be made at the Sevel Nord plant, with thousands of variants available from the numerous panel van, crew cab, shuttle and platform types. RHD versions will be built in Luton, England.

Pierre sees great sales potential for the E-Scudo, due to a growing number of low emission zones across European cities dovetailing with the continuous increase in door-to-door, last mile deliveries from internet sales.

Also sporting the new Fiat badge is the recently launched fifth generation Doblò, although this time it is being produced at the former PSA plant in Spain instead of the Tofas factory in Bursa, Turkey. Sporting minor front end styling changes and brand identity cues that differ it from its sister models, the current Peugeot Partner/Citroën Berlingo, again the many variants currently available from this line-up are also on the new Doblò spec sheets.

Further collaboration is under way within the Stellantis Group at the light commercial end with the likely transfer of the technology developed for the Fiat eDucato model being shared with the larger Peugeot/Citroën/Opel & Vauxhall vans coming on stream, as well as the integration of the Hydrogen drivetrain energy supply for mid-sized vans which is being led by Opel in Germany. Fiat will benefit here also, although Italy, its biggest market is far behind Germany and France when it comes to the hydrogen infrastructure required to make it work.

There are talks also of Fiat Professional re-entering the 1-tonne pick-up market, having previously had a short-term presence in this sector with the Fiat Fullback, based on the Mitsubishi L200. This time around, the experience from sister brands Jeep, RAM and Fiat itself (from South America with the Toro model) could result in something special, or alternatively Stellantis could rebadge and re-engineer the new Peugeot Landtrek pick-up launched last year for African markets.

Interesting times in the road ahead therefore for Fiat Professional. Text: Jarlath Sweeney – editor@fleet.ie