Fiat Announces €700 Million Investment in Fiat Ducato

Fiat Announces €700 Million Investment in Fiat Ducato Joint Venture

Fiat has announced that more than €700 million is to be invested in the Sevel factory in Italy that produces the Fiat Ducato, the market-leading commercial vehicle range that took 18.1% of its segment in the European market 2012, a record for Ducato, and which has climbed to 21.7% in the first five months of this year.

The money will be invested over five years which, together with application of World Class Manufacturing standards, will enable Sevel to further improve its standing as one of the most advanced automotive production facilities in the world.

This investment, of which Euro 550 million is being undertaken by Fiat-Chrysler and Euro 150 million by joint venture partners, PSA, will cover the installation of 60 body welding robots, 25 refurbished spray painting systems, a new assembly line and reorganization of logistics in preparation for a wider range of products in order to meet evolving customer and market demands.

The Sevel plant in Val di Sangro, a 50-50 joint venture between Fiat Group Automobiles and PSA-Peugeot Citroën, was inaugurated on 28 November 1981 by Italian President Sandro Pertini with Fiat Chairman Giovanni Agnelli in attendance.

More than 4.5 million LCVs have been produced at the plant and it employs more than 6,000 people, making it the largest industrial site in Abruzzo. Operating 3 shifts a day, 5 days a week, the plant has a production capacity of around 300,000 vehicles per year.

Fiat Group Automobiles produces LCVs for the Fiat Professional brand at eight plants around the world, including Sevel, which is the largest plant in its segment in Europe.

In addition to the Ducato, the Fiat Professional range also includes the Doblò, Fiorino, Scudo, Strada and van versions of the Panda, Punto and Bravo. Currently sold in more than 80 countries around the world, the Ducato was Europe’s best-selling vehicle in its segment for the first five months of 2013 with a 21.7% share. It has been a long standing leader in the Italian market holding a 42.7% share for the first five months of 2013. At the European level, the model registered an 18.1% market share in 2012, an all-time annual record.

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