In Australia Fiat's registrations rose by 76.4 pct during 2005 as the Ducato van continued to see its sales drive upwards, a trend that is predicted to continue this year as Fiat add more versions to the highly successful range. "Right at the end of 2005 we added the new short wheelbase Ducato to the range so its impact on sales will not really be seen until this year," says Chris Swann, General Manager for Fiat Commercial Vehicles in Australia. "This new variant of the Ducato takes us into a whole new market sector in both price and size with a highly capable and well specified vehicle, so we believe it will add significantly to our sales in the coming year. Added to this, we still have more variants of the Fiat Ducato due for launch in 2006, and we, therefore, expect more records to be broken in this year!"

Launched in Australia in 2002, the Fiat Ducato has been as warmly welcomed by commercial users as it has by mobile home owners. Six Australian motor home converters now use the Fiat Ducato as the basis for their own ranges, two of which have selected the Ducato exclusively, demonstrating their confidence in the Fiat Ducato.
 

The Ducato has built its success on its advanced engine range, compact drivetrain that maximises load space, its full standard equipment list, value for money and its durability. The Ducato's clever design means that even the largest version can fit in an Australian standard car park space and its broad stance also provides the motorhome converters with a range of design options not possible with its long, narrow rivals. The fact that there is no drivetrain - not even the fuel tank - under the load area, enables more space to freed for all applications, such as water tanks in motorhome conversions that in lesser vans are forced to share to cabin space with the occupants.