car news

Siamese twins of Fiat Ducato

Upon first steps into the factory, two Fiats Ducato, bolted back-to-back against each other, immediately attract attention. As if they were made for a game of tug-of-war. What’s going on here? Well, it turns out to be a logistical solution. These are cabs with a short piece of chassis to which a camper will soon be attached. The back wall of the cabs is open for that reason. Cloth covers that hole. By screwing them together, two units for a camper can be placed on the truck or rail car in the place of a bus with a long chassis. That saves space and money. Clever though!

Stellantis Pro One factory, what do they make there?

Stellantis Pro One is officially the name of that major light commercial vehicle plant. We took a look behind the scenes. The gates were opened to show the start of production of the Cargo Box BEV. It is the most powerful electric commercial vehicle currently being made there, but a lot more is being bolted together based on the Citroën Jumper, Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer and Opel Movano models. Of these brands, those are the biggest ones they offer in the light commercial vehicle segment.

Stellantis major player in motorhomes

Being smart and watching costs has become big business, even when it comes to motorhomes. In the motorhome market, the Citroën Jumper, Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer and Opel Movano play a big role. The Ducato, in particular, has served as a donor driver for motorhomes for 20 years. As many as 75% of the motorhomes on the road today are on a cab-chassis chassis, supplied by this factory in Atessa.

Specialist in customization

The Stellantis Pro One plant at Atessa in Italy has now started production of the Cargo Box versions. Not one or two, but 24 different variants of this large cargo box are available for the brands that have long held a leading position in the European light commercial vehicle (LCV) market, with a market share of more than 30%.

High performance electric commercial vehicle

As the highest performance battery-powered light commercial vehicle on the market (anno 2025), the Cargo Box offers an exceptional cargo capacity of 18.3 m³, with an internal length of 4,230 mm, 2,032 mm width and 2,150 mm height. The model is based on the electric chassis-cab versions. The electric powertrain delivers 410 Nm of torque and an output of 200 kW (270 hp). Combined with a 110 kWh battery, it is good for a range of up to 323 km. For those who need even more cargo space, an L4 configuration will also be available, with a cargo volume of 20.5 m³, an internal length of 4,500 mm and a height of 2,300 mm.

Faster charging

To further strengthen its offering in the large van segment, Stellantis Pro One now introduces 22 kW AC charging as standard on all models. A full charge then takes only six hours, half the time compared to the previous 11 kW solution.

Size of Stellantis Pro One factory

The Atessa plant, with more than 1.2 million m² of surface area and nearly 5,000 employees, is the largest plant in Europe dedicated exclusively to light commercial vehicles. With 15 km of assembly lines, the largest body shop within Stellantis and a paint shop that meets the latest energy and sustainability criteria, Atessa can handle more than 1,200 different configurations – from camper chassis to converted vehicles and models for goods transport. With 14 engines, four types of transmissions, more than 300 options and eight load volumes, it is a full production ecosystem capable of delivering more than 2,500 versions.

Stellantis CustomFit

Atessa is also one of the most advanced hubs for Stellantis CustomFit, a growing program for conversion and customization. Today, 50% of Stellantis Pro One production is converted or customized within this program. This is done both in the factory itself and through a global network of more than 550 certified partners, including Dhollandia, which supplies electrically operated tail lifts. Thanks to this network, Stellantis can respond perfectly to professional needs and supply customized vehicles through the dealer network, ensuring shorter delivery times.

Digital catalog

Stellantis is currently working on a digital catalog so that customers and dealers can directly order the light commercial vehicle they want in it. During 2025, it should be ready in several countries. Up to some 8,000 options can then be offered digitally. The desired commercial vehicle can then be assembled in one go, which saves a lot of transport movements to and from builders and converters. That also means a short lead time, thus a shorter delivery time, and significantly lower costs for both manufacturer Stellantis Pro One and the buyer of the vehicle. Digital ordering will increase over the next few years to about 15% by 2027. Personalization at the factory in Atessa will rise to 40% by 2027, and this will mainly involve personalization for customers with large fleets, such as Amazon, GLS and the UK’s Royal Mail.

Largest in light commercial vehicles in Europe

Stellantis light commercial vehicle market share reached 30.3% in Europe at the end of May 2025. That’s good for first place. In the Netherlands, the market share is 23.6%. The goal is a number-one position worldwide by 2030. That must come from growth in Africa and the United States, among other places. Here that will have to happen with the products of Ram, (Dodge) and Jeep, which also reside under the Stellantis umbrella.

Proactively responding to demand

Anne Abboud, head of the Stellantis Pro One division, said, “The launch of the Cargo Box BEV confirms the impressive strength of this factory, which is dedicated to proactively and quickly responding to the demands of professional customers, with an eye on efficiency, maximum quality and speed to market. The Stellantis Pro One offering is unsurpassed in capabilities and flexibility.”

CustomFit is answer

Arnaud Leclerc, global head of Stellantis CustomFit, added: “The direct production capacity of our factories within CustomFit is reinforced by a global network of 550 authorized partners, who work in conjunction with our official dealer network, ensuring an extensive network of points of contact. All customizations performed by our partners enjoy the same two-year factory warranty as vehicles coming directly from the factory.”

RV section of Stellantis

A particular area of focus within Stellantis CustomFit is the production of converted vehicles for the RV (Recreational Vehicles) sector, where Stellantis Pro One is the market leader. Says Leclerc, “We have been active in this market segment since 2006 and have never stopped innovating or maintaining a constant dialogue with RV manufacturers. Together we look for the most practical and functional solutions. One of the smartest innovations in this segment we call ‘BacktoBack’: we have managed to connect two independent driver cabins together so that they can be moved as one vehicle – with clear advantages in terms of cost, logistics and ecological footprint.”

Market leader with motorhomes

Stellantis Pro One has sold more than 2 million motorhomes over the past 20 years. 75% of its moving motorhomes are built on a Ducato chassis. Leclerc: “It’s no coincidence that the Ducato has been voted ‘Best Motorhome Base’ by the authoritative German magazine Promobil for seventeen years in a row. There is no better summary of what we do than our slogan: ‘Fit for Mission,’ as proven by the BEV version. We are ready to launch an all-electric offering for our most discerning and demanding customers.” In 2025, an electric e-PTO to drive hydraulic systems will arrive on motorhomes. Followed in 2026 by new captain chairs, new safety systems and new LED lighting.