Stellantis has gone live with a new inhouse conversion and customisation programme at the IAA Transportation 2024 trade show in Hanover.

The CustomFit scheme is said to deliver the highest standards of quality, safety and seamless integration

The CustomFit scheme runs across all Stellantis Pro One brands – Citroën, Fiat Professional, Opel, Peugeot, Ram and Vauxhall – and has already begun in some plants ahead of gradual implementation at other production sites.

The scheme is said to deliver the highest standards of quality, safety and seamless integration between technological features of the base model vehicle and the specific modifications requested by the client.

It’s supported by a new digital platform that not only expands the offering but also optimises delivery times and is said to enhance the overall customer experience.

The scheme launches as Stellantis reports a 30% rise in factory conversions compared to last year

Alongside its in-house transformations, Stellantis collaborates with more than 400 certified partners worldwide to offer a wide range of conversion solutions, representing more than 50% of the group’s total LCV business.

The scheme strengthens a growing range of products, from tipper vans to optimised cargo space vans and recreational vehicles, designed specifically to meet the needs of private customers, SMEs and large fleets.

In 2024, Stellantis recorded a 25% increase in conversions with certified partners and doubled the number of customised units for large fleets produced in-house, leading to a 35% increase in converted vehicle sales across Europe.

Several converted vehicles were on display at the Stellantis Pro One stand at IAA, demonstrating the versatility of all its models for various “specialties” in passenger transport and customised vehicle solutions. These range from shuttles to assisted mobility, mobile workshops to tipper trucks, insulated vehicles to refrigerated ones, leisure campers to public administration vehicles.

The launch of the new scheme follows Stellantis’ renewal of its entire range of compact, medium and large vans under a new global offensive.

Arnaud Leclerc, global head of Stellantis CustomFit, said: “The ability to carry out conversions directly in our production plants gives us a competitive advantage, ensuring the highest standards of quality and flexibility. With this strategy, and under our new Stellantis CustomFit programme, Stellantis Pro One not only meets but exceeds market expectations, positioning itself as the benchmark for converted commercial vehicles.”

Stellantis also used the IAA event to showcase its hydrogen fuel cell (FCEV) technology, engineered to provide the best of ICE and BEV propulsion.

Already available on medium-sized vans, this will soon be equipped on the group’s large vans, as demonstrated by the Opel/Vauxhall Movano Hydrogen premiered at IAA.

Stellantis Pro One has also celebrated a major milestone, inaugurating its new global commercial vehicles hub at the Mirafiori Automotive Park 2030 in Turin, Italy.

The new hub, made of more than 80 experts, will integrate multiple cross-brand functions including engineering, marketing, product development, sales, logistics, communication, finance, human resources, purchasing, recreational vehicles, manufacturing and other customer-focused activities. Also, it will act as a “steering centre” for all employees involved in the global commercial vehicle business. These teams will coordinate with competence centres and production facilities worldwide, supporting Stellantis Pro One’s mission to strengthen its global leadership in commercial vehicles.

“The Stellantis Pro One global commercial vehicles hub is all about taking the best of our dedicated teams, based across our regions, to achieve our ambition on a very profitable segment that represents one-third of our revenues,” said Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares. “The decision to set this hub in Mirafiori is another testament to our deep commitment to Italy.”