Ducato production passes the two million mark

The two millionth Ducato van has just rolled off the production line at Sevel, in Val di Sangro, Italy, continuing the remarkable story of Fiat Professional’s much loved commercial vehicle.

Production of the Ducato began in 1981, and the van has enjoyed sustained popularity with self-employed tradespeople, shopkeepers and delivery companies, while remaining a favourite with large utilities and institutions. Special customers such as local authorities, police, and leisure sector (campers and motorhomes) converters have also helped fuel the Ducato’s extraordinary success.

The original Ducato’s reputation grew annually until the turning point in 1994, when the second generation was launched. By now, it was no longer seen as a single basic model with many specification variants, but rather as a number of different vehicles specialised for different payloads and operations. The designers succeeded in producing no fewer than 2000 variants.

That formula proved to be the right one, as sales and market shares exceeded expectations right from the first year of sale, culminating in the prestigious Van of the Year 1994 title.

The Ducato's success stems from the basic value of the product, from the quality of its design, the professionalism of the people who build it, and the agreement between Fiat and PSA.

The latter was signed in 1978 and led to the setting up of a joint venture that was recently extended to 2017. The Sevel plant in Italy, the production site of the Ducato and corresponding PSA models, (which both manufacturers market independently), is kept busy, with total production stabilising at more than 250,000 vehicles a year.

“The Ducato story proves that a well designed and built vehicle can stay one step ahead of the competition year after year,” says Gerry Clarke, managing director, Fiat Professional in the UK. “And this tradition of innovation will continue to produce new versions so as to satisfy the needs of all types of customer.”

The Fiat Ducato van range starts at £15,425 + VAT (vans) for the 30 2.2 litre 100 MultiJet Diesel SWB. It comes in Light Panel Vans, Heavy Panel Vans, Light Chassis Cabs and Trucks and Heavy Chassis Cabs and Trucks, as well as a range of passenger carrying versions (combi and minibuses).