Born in 2000 and based around the first-generation Fiat Uno's underpinnings, the Doblò immediately set a new standard for low-cost and simple light vans in the European market place as well as giving rise to an equally affordable passenger carrying version. Tofaş, a 50-50 joint venture between Fiat Group and Turkish industrial conglomerate Koç Holding has exported around 70 percent of the Doblò's production over the last ten years from Bursa. A mid-life facelift followed for the van before the new second-generation Doblò was launched late last year, this time based on the Fiat Grande Punto's architecture but featuring new twin-link suspension while the vehicle was developed by Tofaş which holds some IP rights.

The one millionth Doblò to come off the production lines was a passenger carrying "MPV" style version finished "Turkish Coffee" and destined for the local market. There to wave it way was the CEO of Tofaş, Ali Pandir, the Turkish Minister for Industry and Commerce, Nihat Ergün, and representatives from Koç Holding, including the President of the Board of Directors, Mustafa V. Koç who the Anatolia News Agency reported as saying at the ceremony: "The Fiat Doblò has proved the production quality of the Turkish worker to the world, with its quality, hardware and functional advantages, it has been the top selling model in the domestic market."

A prototype electric-powered version of the Doblò was also demonstrated during the ceremony and Pandir, who noted that Tofaş spends 5 percent of its revenues of R&D, commented: "A company that does not invest in research and development has no chance of staying afoot in this competitive world. In 2000, Tofaş R&D employees numbered 150. Today that figure is 450. Our R&D spending used to be 15 million Turkish Liras. Today it is 150 million liras.” Ergün meanwhile said that the Turkish economy could grow by as much as 6 percent this year and revealled that the government was “preparing steps to support the auto industry.”

Gianpaolo Scarante, Italy’s ambassador to Turkey, also spoke. “Investing in Turkey is profitable and cooperating with Turkey in industry is a wise choice,” the ambassador was quoted as saying by the Anatolia News Agency. “Tofaş today is one of the top three production bases of Fiat in the world. Tofaş is a testimony to my country’s endless trust in Turkey. This trust has manifested itself in decisive support for Turkey’s European Union membership."

While the underlying concept of the Doblò theme is to provide a basic, low-cost LCV, the range does include the 1.4 16v T-Jet with 120 CV and which is Euro 5 compliant and adapted by Fiat Powertrain Technologies to run on petrol or methane with compromising the cargo space of 790 litres (or 3200 litres with the seats folded away). The Doblò "Natural Power" thus successfully compromises performance with running costs.