New Launches
Show Report: CV Show 2012
What a cracking event the 2012 Commercial Vehicle Show turned out to be, thanks in no small part to Ford… Read More
Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Long-Term Test 1
We has just taken delivery of a Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Club Cab for long-term appraisal… Read More
Ford Transit ECOnetic Brief Test
We’ve been putting a SWB 100hp 2.2TDi Euro 5 Transit 280 ECOnetic through its paces… Read More
Renault Kangoo ZE 2011 European Launch
Renault is at the forefront of manufacturers offering a mass produced factory-built electric van… Read More
Fuso Canter 2011 European Launch
Fuso has completely revamped its range of light and heavy truck Canter chassis and chassis crew cabs… Read More
Iveco Daily 2011 European Launch
Iveco has introduced new, latest generation diesels to its Daily range, along with detail changes inside and out… Read More
Ford Transit 2011 European Launch
Ford takes the iconic Transit to the next stage with an all-new range of 2.2-litre Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Volkswagen Crafter 2011 UK Launch
VW’s large panel van has undergone a serious makeover with changes to the front-end styling and the cab interior, as well as new Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Ford Transit Connect Electric Brief Test
We spent a day with the battery-powered Connect to get a better idea of what it’s like to live with in its natural, urban environment. Read More
Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL Brief Test
Currently undergoing trials with selected fleet customers in the UK, we managed to get behind the wheel of a battery-powered Vito E-CELL… Read More
Fiat and PSA bin joint-venture deal
Dating back to 1995, the joint-venture deal between Fiat Professional and PSA Peugeot Citroën which resulted in the Scudo, Expert and Dispatch light commercials will come to an end in 2017. The two companies will develop and build their own next generation replacements.In a statement the French manufacturer said: “PSA and Fiat will continue to jointly produce vehicles at the Sevelnord plant in Hordain, near Valenciennes, until 2017. However, the two partners will not renew their joint-venture agreement after that date. The product strategies of Fiat and PSA in the segment served by the Peugeot Expert, Citroën Jumpy (Dispatch in the UK, for obvious reasons) and Fiat Scudo being divergent, their joint-venture at Sevelnord will not be renewed."
Another long-standing Sevel joint-venture produces the Ducato for Fiat, as well as two models for the French company. The press release merely says that the co-operation will continue until 2019 without hinting if this arrangement will also be disbanded. “In the framework of their co-operation agreement in light commercial vehicles, PSA Peugeot Citroën and Fiat are planning to produce the Boxer, Jumper (Boxer in UK) and Fiat Ducato to 2019, in Fiat’s Val di Sangro plant in southern Italy (Sevelsud).”
As revealed by VansA2Z back in November 2010 (see News Story) the new Vauxhall Combo will be based on — a re-badged version of — Fiat’s Doblò so it’s not much of a stretch to deduce that Fiat’s all-new Scudo replacement will also pitch-up sporting a Vauxhall/Opel badge. Currently, Vauxhall doesn’t have a product filling the size gap between Combo and its Vivaro small panel van.
What isn’t certain at the moment is where, or by whom, it would be built. Maybe Vauxhall’s parent company, GM, is planning to re-purpose its Luton plant which currently produces Vivaro and its Renault/Nissan counterparts; Trafic and Primastar.
On the other hand, is the Fiat Scudo a relevant product any more? After all, Doblò is available as a standard or long-wheelbase. Watch this space…
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Latest Features
Show Preview: CV Show 2012
This year's Commercial Vehicle Show is scheduled to return to the NEC Birmingham on 24 – 26 April following a very successful 2011 event. The show dates have… Read More
Vans of the Year Awards 2012
Each year we sit down and decide which, in our opinion, are best light commercials around in each market segment… Read More
Manheim: Used Van Market 2011
Manheim Remarketing reports on used van values and trends in 2011… Read More
Iveco: State of the Nation 2012
The Italian van and truck manufacturer takes a look back at the 2011 UK van market… Read More
Bridgestone Eco-Rally 2011
Environmentally-friendly transport can be fun, as we discovered courtesy of a Transit Connect Electric… Read More