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The year 1981 was a hugely significant year for the leisure vehicle industry in Europe. It wasn’t because of huge sales, or a big boom in interest in the camping market, but actually because of the launch of a new commercial vehicle. The Fiat Ducato was introduced to the market and quickly became a favourite thanks to a combination of its versatility, engine power and low running costs. It truly revolutionsed the large volume van segment and over time it has been gradually refined to make it a benchmark in its class – now produced in over 10,000 variants and sold in more than 80 countries around the world.

It’s perhaps hard to believe then that in this year, its 40^th anniversary, the Ducato has been named as the best-selling commercial vehicle in Europe according to sales information from Dataforce. In 2020, the Ducato sold around 150,000 units and had a market share of 20.5 per cent, with an increase in volumes of 7.6 per cent and in share of 3 percentage points, in a market scenario that has fallen.

Made for motorhomes

A leader in its segment since 2014, the Ducato is the undisputed leader in the large van segment in 13 European markets and is the only one created specifically as a motorhome base. In the last decade in Europe, 500,000 families have decided to travel in a Fiat Professional Ducato-based motorhome, courtesy of its wide range of body variants, the regular, squared shape of the load compartment, the efficiency of its engines and its car-like driving. The Ducato motorhome base vehicle is designed and developed in conjunction with the largest European recreational vehicle manufacturers, to offer the best solutions with both a base and a living pod. A vacation aboard a Ducato-based motorhome is the ideal choice to combine adventure and freedom with safety and the peace of mind of your own four walls, and again last year provided total peace of mind for vacationing in the great outdoors, in a protected, self-sufficient environment that is easy to clean and sanitize.

A new era

The news can’t have escaped anyone with an interest in the leisure vehicle sector that the Ducato recently revealed its latest iteration, the E-Ducato. This fully-electric version of the iconic van has been designed to help people enjoy the same benefits of the vehicle but with zero emissions, and is a natural evolution of the vehicle, according to Fiat’s owner Stellantis. Designed in line with Fiat Professional’s highest quality standards, the Ducato will be available in all body variants with the same load volume as the conventional Ducato, from 10 m3 to 17 m3, and the best payload on the market, up to 1,950 kg. Various battery options will also be on offer, with ranges from 230 to 360 km in a typical urban delivery cycle, ready for the challenges of last mile.