Along with the launch of a completely new one-ton bakkie, Fiat Professional will offer facelift derivatives of existing Ducato and Doblo model ranges in 2016.

The LCV brand has employed Johan Cloete as project manager, Fiat development. Cloete has extensive commercial vehicle industry experience, spanning more than 40 years, having previously worked in retail as well as at OEM level for Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, FUSO, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and most recently MAN Trucks.

“We are serious about the future viability of the Fiat Professional brand in South Africa and believe its presence can be strengthened through the LCV development programme I have been tasked with heading up,” says Cloete.

The yet-to-be-named one-ton pickup will be offered in single or double-cab variants and with petrol or diesel engines.

Arriving in the first half of the year, it will extend the Fiat Professional vehicle range and follows in the tyre-tracks of the half-ton Fiat Strada that was sold locally until 2012.