"When it comes to production quality and cost efficiency, Vigo is a benchmark"

Anne Abboud, head of Stellantis Pro One's commercial vehicles division, leads a sector that is crucial for the company as it is the undisputed leader in the commercial vehicle market in Europe, the Middle East, and South America.

To maintain this leadership, the brand's factories and the diversification of its offerings are crucial. Two of Stellantis' main plants dedicated to industrial vehicles are the Italian Atessa and the Spanish Vigo.

- What is the plan for the K9 vans (Citroën Berlingo, Fiat Doblò, Opel Combo, and Peugeot Partner) assembled at the Vigo plant, and what role do they play in the Stellantis Pro One universe?

- The K9 is key because it is the best model in Stellantis' commercial offering, so it is crucial that the Vigo plant operates at a high level. In many areas, when it comes to production quality and cost efficiency, Vigo is a benchmark.

- What is your opinion on the market situation of electric vans compared to diesel and other options?

- We have started in mid-2024 with a second generation of electric vehicles with greater range and better capacity. The proportion is 9% electric vehicles. Currently, we hold a 30.3% market share worldwide with our products.

- How are you working to promote the sale of electric vehicles to comply with emission standards?

- We are doing everything we can to promote the mix between electric and combustion. We have just introduced the electric K9 in our offering six weeks ago for the Spanish market. We are pushing the full diversity of the range we can, but we are still at 9%, and the industry is not moving as fast as we are.

- Is there any plan to open the commercial portfolio to plug-in hybrid vehicles?

- We are doing everything we can to provide answers to customer needs, and plug-in hybrid technology is part of the solution. It is on the way.

- What is the mix of electric models between large and small vehicles?

- It is different. Among large models, it is 4%, while in medium ones like the K9, it accounts for 16%. Small ones are mostly electric because their use is more urban.

- How does the trend towards manufacturing more electric vehicles affect the production lines of the plants?

- The trend is clear, there are more and more electric vehicles, and we are working to adapt the factories to demand. A few years ago, it was only 20% of production, and now it is around 30%.

- What do you think about the option of hydrogen engines for industrial vehicles?

- We are not ready. It is a very complex technique, so we are not ready to put more cars on the road with that technology.

- What do you think about the competition from new industrial vehicles coming from China?

- In this segment, there are not many companies with offerings currently. They mainly attack us on price. This means we need to have a more comprehensive offer for the customer, to which we add a personalized service. I believe the answer lies in offering customers a tailored solution for their needs, something that Stellantis Pro One offers with our CustomFit service.