11.09.2011 CHRYSLER GROUP TO IMPORT AND SELL FIAT'S DOBLÒ UNDER ITS RAM BRAND

OPEL COMBO 2012 (FIAT DOBLO)

As well as building the Doblò for Fiat Professional and from 2013 for Chrysler Group, Tofaş has also signed a deal that will see it assembling a lightly re-skinned version for GM's European Vauxhall/Opel division from this autumn. Featuring a new front clip, it replaces Vauxhall/Opel's current Combo van.

FIAT DOBLO WORK UP

Earlier this summer Tofaş added a new "small truck" version to its Doblò range with a unique design that aims to slot into an unexplored segment for Fiat, a truck with small external dimensions that allows for ease of use in a crowded urban environment and especially in difficult, narrow passages such as alleys and driveways.

Fiat has confirmed its proposed plans to sell the Doblò in North America from 2013, with a projected 190,000 units set to shipped from the Tofaş joint venture in Turkey, where the light commercial vehicle is manufactured, over the seven year timeframe of the agreement.

A statement issued in Turin read: "A letter of intent has been signed between Fiat Group Automobiles SpA (FGA) and its Turkish joint-venture partner Tofaş for the supply of the Fiat Doblò vehicle to Chrysler Group where it will be sold in the US and Canadian markets under the Ram brand."

The Chrysler Group's Ram brand has been in serious need of van additions to the commercial vehicle-focused range ever since its rebadged and licenced Mercedes-Benz Sprinter was pulled by the German carmaker last year. Currently Ram's range comprises of just two utility vehicles: its key-selling pick-up (153,453 sales in the U.S. for the year-to-date) and its slowly fading Dakota pickup (9,949 sales in the U.S. for the year-to-date).

The Fiat Group Automobiles statement added that: "Exports of the Doblò, recently voted International Van of the Year 2011, will commence in early 2013. The 7-year supply agreement calls for Tofaş to export a total of 190,000 units of the successful Doblò vehicle from its Bursa facility – Turkey’s largest automobile production plant.

Listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange and established 43 years ago in 1968, Tofaş is a 50-50 joint-venture between Fiat Group Automobiles and Turkish domestic conglomerate, Koç Group. Tofaş has built both the first- and second-generation Doblò vehicles, significantly, it holds the intellectual property rights to the latter version. Before the Ram application even kicks in, this vehicle's production is already being ramped up: as well as building the Doblò for Fiat Professional, Tofaş has also signed a deal that will see it assembling a lightly re-skinned version for GM's European Vauxhall/Opel division from this autumn. Featuring a new front clip, it will replace Vauxhall/Opel's current Combo van.

Earlier this summer Tofaş added a new "small truck" version to its Doblò range for the first time with a unique design that aims to slot into what is an unexplored segment for Fiat: called the Doblò Work Up, the concept is a small truck with compact external dimensions that allows for ease of use in a crowded urban environment and especially in difficult, narrow passages such as alleys and driveways.

The press release issued in Turin to announce the Doblò/Ram application also notes that the Turkish joint venture company will be responsible for all the costs of re-engineering the light van to meet Stateside legislative requirements, saying: "Tofaş will invest over US$160 million for the necessary US and Canadian homologation and customer requirement modifications."

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