FLEET & BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
Vans need to have own identity and should no longer be treated as just an extension of passenger cars
Partnership content, funded by STELLANTIS
Bauer Media Registered Company Number LP003328 (England and Wales) Registered Office: The Lantern, 75 Hampstead Road, London, NW1 2PL
BACK TO THE TOP
SEARCH BY BRANDS
Stellantis reshapes LCV business to meet evolving fleet demands
At the heart of the strategy is a clear shift away from treating vans as an extension of the passenger car business. Charles Martin, LCV Pro One Director, is candid that Stellantis – like much of the industry – historically prioritised cars, leaving the van side comparatively underdeveloped. Now, that is changing.
“We don’t want to be just vans within brands,” he explains. Instead, Stellantis is building a dedicated Pro One division designed to give LCVs the same level of focus and expertise as a standalone business.
For fleet operators, this shift is likely to be most visible in the dealer network. Stellantis is in the process of establishing a nationwide network of around 120 professional light sites and 35 professional centres, with varying levels of capability dependent on the size and complexity of vehicles they support. Crucially, these centres are being designed around the specific needs of van users.
That distinction matters. As Martin points out, downtime is critical for LCV customers: “If the van breaks down and you can’t get it back on the road, you’re not going to buy it next time.”
The emphasis, therefore, is on faster turnaround times through a new Pro One Next programme for fleet LCV customers, better technical expertise and facilities capable of handling larger, heavier vehicles.
Alongside network transformation, Stellantis is pursuing a highly customer-led approach to product development – particularly in electric vans. Rather than chasing maximum range figures, the company is focusing on offering a variety of battery sizes and configurations tailored to different duty cycles. This reflects a key challenge for fleets: balancing range, payload and cost. Larger batteries increase range but add weight and reduce carrying capacity, while also pushing up purchase prices.
Martin says that the solution is flexibility, ensuring customers only pay for what they actually need.
The transition to electric is also being framed as an opportunity rather than simply a compliance exercise. New EV architectures allow for greater design freedom, enabling improvements in load space, access and usability. More significantly for fleet users, they open up new functionality.
Stellantis is doubling down on its ambition to become a market leader in the light commercial vehicle (LCV) sector with a renewed focus on fleet customers, dealer capability and product flexibility.
Features such as vehicle-to-load capability, onboard power for tools, and integration with digital systems are set to become increasingly important. Martin even describes the van evolving into a “mobile office”, where drivers can manage payments, logistics and communications directly from the vehicle.
Stellantis believes the van market is approaching a turning point on total cost of ownership (TCO), particularly as electric vehicles move closer to price parity with diesel. Martin suggests that, while upfront costs have historically been a barrier, this gap is narrowing rapidly, and in some cases is already offset by significantly lower running costs.
For fleet operators, this shifts the conversation away from purchase price alone and towards whole-life cost. With rising and volatile diesel prices, alongside lower maintenance requirements for electric drivetrains, the economic case for EV vans is strengthening. Martin contends that, once acquisition costs align, “it becomes very difficult to justify” sticking with traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
Another key pillar of Stellantis’ strategy is its relationship with converters. From tippers and dropsides to ambulances and motorhomes, the conversion market remains central to the LCV sector. Stellantis is investing in closer collaboration with converter partners, including the development of secure digital interfaces that allow modifications without compromising vehicle systems or cybersecurity.
For fleets, this should translate into more seamless integration between base vehicles and specialist adaptations – an area that has often been fragmented in the past.
Brand strategy also plays a role. Unlike some competitors, Stellantis operates multiple marques in the van market; in 2025, Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroën and Fiat Professional combined to account for 21% of the van market (up to 3.5 tonnes) in the UK. Martin sees this breadth as a strength, allowing the company to maintain long-standing customer relationships while offering choice. At the same time, the group is working to avoid unnecessary duplication and therefore added costs by sharing platforms and components across brands.
In the UK, Vauxhall is positioned as a key “brand champion”, supported by increasing domestic production at Ellesmere Port. For fleet buyers, the “built in Britain” message is likely to carry growing weight, particularly in the context of supply chain resilience and sustainability.
Looking ahead, however, Martin identifies one major challenge: uncertainty. With shifting government policies around electrification and emissions, fleets are being forced to make investment decisions without a clear long-term framework.
“The biggest challenge is clarity,” he says, noting that operators risk investing heavily in infrastructure that may not align with future regulation.
Despite this, Stellantis is pressing ahead, investing across multiple powertrain technologies while preparing for a range of possible outcomes.
For fleet professionals, the message is clear: the LCV market is entering a period of rapid transformation, and manufacturers that combine product innovation with operational excellence will be best placed to lead it.
Fiat Professional Scudo rolls off the line at Luton Plant
Other key fleet models
“If the van breaks down and you can’t get it back on the road, you’re not going to buy it again”
Charles Martin, LCV Pro One Director
Vauxhall
Fiat, Abarth and Jeep
Vauxhall Combo Electric (left) pictured with Vauxhall Vivaro Electric
Fiat Ducato The Fiat Ducato is one of Europe’s leading large vans, renowned for its practicality, versatility and strong carrying capability. The Ducato offers a wide range of body styles, wheelbases and roof heights to suit different needs. One of its key strengths is cargo capacity, with load volumes ranging from 10 to 17 cubic metres depending on configuration. The van’s square-sided design and low loading floor maximise usable space and make loading easier, while cargo lengths of over four metres are available on larger models.
Payload capacity is another major advantage, with the Ducato capable of carrying between 1,000Kg and 1,500Kg, while heavy-duty versions can carry up to 2,030Kg. Towing capability is equally impressive, with diesel models offering braked towing capacities of up to 3,500Kg, making the van suitable for transporting trailers, equipment and mobile workshops. Consequently, the Ducato has a strong presence in sectors where heavy conversions are required, such as ambulance and NHS.
Powertrain options include an efficient 2.2-litre turbodiesel, available in outputs ranging from 120PS to 180PS, paired with manual or automatic transmissions. These engines are designed to deliver strong torque, fuel efficiency and durability for long-distance commercial use. Fiat also offers the fully electric E-Ducato, featuring battery options up to 110kWh and a driving range of up to 260 miles, aimed at urban and zeroemission fleet operations. The Ducato remains one of the most competitive large vans on the European market. Also known as: Citroën Relay, Peugeot Boxer, Vauxhall Movano.
Citroën ë-C3 Van The new Citroën ë-C3 Van takes a different approach to the traditional compact van formula. Rather than being a purpose-built light commercial vehicle, it is based on the passenger ë-C3 electric hatchback, transformed into a compact two-seat van aimed at urban businesses, working primarily in city environments. Its small footprint and electric-only drivetrain make it particularly suited to low-emission zones and short-distance delivery work.
Instead of rear seats, the ë-C3 Van features a fullheight bulkhead and dedicated load area capable of carrying up to 1,220 litres of cargo space, or 730 litres when the load cover is fitted. Payload capacity stands at approximately 300Kg, while the load bay measures around 1.2 metres long and 1.0 metre wide at floor level, giving enough
room for tools, parcels and smaller equipment.
Power comes from a 44kWh battery paired with a 113PS electric motor driving the front wheels. A WLTP driving range of up to 200 miles makes the van viable for daily urban and suburban routes without frequent charging stops. Rapid charging capability of up to 100kW allows
the battery to charge from 20% to 80% in as little as 26 minutes, helping minimise downtime during working hours.
While it lacks the outright carrying ability of larger compact vans, the ë-C3 Van focuses instead on affordability, comfort and low operating costs, offering a practical zero-emission solution for small businesses operating in increasingly electrified cities.
Vauxhall Vivaro The Vauxhall Vivaro combines strong practicality, efficient engines and car-like driving manners, earning it favour among UK van buyers, with a particular stronghold among major corporates. The Vivaro is available in two body lengths and multiple configurations, including panel van and double cab. Despite its compact dimensions, the Vivaro offers impressive carrying capability, with load volumes ranging from 5.3 to 6.6 cubic metres when fitted with Vauxhall’s FlexCargo load-through bulkhead system. Maximum load lengths extend beyond four metres in long-wheelbase models, allowing the van to carry large items such as pipes, timber and sheet materials.
Payload capacity is one of the Vivaro’s strongest attributes, with diesel variants capable of carrying up to approximately 1,400Kg depending on specification, placing it among the class leaders in the medium van sector. Towing performance is also competitive, with higher-powered diesel models able to tow up to 2,500Kg braked, while electric versions offer towing capacities of up to 1,000Kg.
The Vivaro range includes efficient 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre turbodiesel engines producing between 120PS and 180PS, paired with manual or automatic gearboxes. Vauxhall also offers the all-electric Vivaro Electric, featuring a 75kWh battery and a driving range of around 205 miles (WLTP). With low running costs, strong payload figures and modern driver assistance technology, the Vivaro remains a highly competitive choice in the medium van market. Also available as: Citroën Dispatch, Fiat Scudo, Peugeot Expert
Peugeot Partner The Peugeot Partner is valued for its practicality, efficient running costs and strong carrying capability. It is available in two body lengths and as a panel van or crew van and strikes a balance between manoeuvrability and carrying capability, with load volumes ranging from 3.3 to 4.4 cubic metres. Peugeot’s Multi-Flex folding bulkhead system allows longer items, such as ladders, piping or timber, to be carried without stepping up to a larger van class.
The Partner’s powertrain range includes efficient 1.5-litre BlueHDi turbodiesel engines producing between 100PS and 130PS, paired with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. Peugeot also offers the fully electric e-Partner, powered by a 50kWh battery and a 136PS electric motor, delivering a WLTP driving range of up to approximately 213 miles.
Payload capacity is among the best in the compact van segment, with diesel versions capable of carrying up to approximately 1,000Kg, while electric e-Partner models offer payloads of around 780Kg depending on
specification. Towing capability ranges from 750Kg to just over 1,000Kg braked, giving the Partner additional versatility for light trailer work.
Combined with low operating costs, compact dimensions and modern driver assistance technology, the Peugeot Partner remains one of the most competitive and versatile small vans on the market. Also available as: Citroën Berlingo, Fiat Doblò, Vauxhall Combo