Fiat Group
Automobiles and GM's Opel division have concluded
negotiations and signed a contract whereby Fiat will
supply the Turkish-built Doblò light commercial vehicle
through all is variants to Opel commencing December
2011.
The vehicles
will receive some cosmetic restyling changes to set them
apart from the Fiat version as is the case with Tofas'
other current LCV project with PSA Peugeot-Citroën. The
Opel version be produced alongside the Doblò on the
production lines at the Tofas plant in Bursa, Turkey and
will be sold by Vauxhall and Opel Dealers in Europe and
other markets outside of NAFTA progressively from Jan
2012. The model will replace the Opel Combo Light
Commercial Vehicle.
Opel and
Vauxhall will retain the Combo name for this new vehicle
range which will include a number of derivatives
including Cargo Vans, Combi’s, Passenger Vehicles and
chassis Cabs. The Opel/Vauxhall design team in
Russelsheim Germany is actively involved in the
development of the new models with Fiat Group
Automobiles’ Engineering and Design Group in Turin,
Italy.
The project
calls for an initial supply of up to 6,000 vehicles in
2011. The program is planned to cover the supply of at
least 250,000 units. This will extend the total
life-time production of this vehicle platform in Tofas
to 1.3 million units. Tofas is a joint venture between
Fiat Group Automobiles and Koc Holding of Turkey and was
established in 1968.
