Chrysler is putting a Fiat-sourced compact van into competition in the US with Ford’s Transit Connect from 2012, with both vehicles being sourced from Turkey.
The second generation Fiat Doblo van will sold under the new Ram truck brand along with a large Fiat-based van and will be exported from Fiat’s Turk Otomobile Fabrikasi (Tofas) joint venture plant based in Bursa, which it runs with Turkish company Koc Holding. Production of the second generation Doblo has recently started at the plant.
The Transit Connect is built at the Ford Otosan plant in Kocaeli but Ford is also planning to assemble the Connect in US in 2013. Ford introduced the Connect to the US market in July this year. Fiat, meanwhile, has no plans to build the Doblo in the US.
Ford is reported to be targeting sales of between 50,000 and 60,000 for the Transit Connect, while Chrysler is expected to aim at sales of between 25,000 and 40,000 Doblos.
The second-generation Doblo is also going on sale in Europe from January as a seven-seat passenger vehicle and as a panel van option.
