Sevel
| Company type | Joint venture |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Founder | Fiat S.p.A. and PSA Group |
| Headquarters | Italy |
Area served | Europe |
| Products | Light commercial vehicles, minivans/MPVs |
Number of employees | Approximately 6,300 (Sevel Sud), 2,400 (Sevel Nord) |
| Parent | Stellantis |
Sevel S.p.A.—an acronym derived from the Italian "Società Europea Veicoli Leggeri" and French "Société Européenne de Véhicules Légers," translating to European Light Vehicle Company—is an Italian manufacturer focused on light commercial vehicles. Established in 1978 through a collaboration between Fiat S.p.A. and PSA Group, the venture initially encompassed brands including Alfa Romeo, Lancia, and Talbot. Production commenced at Sevel Sud in Italy in 1981, followed by the opening of Sevel Nord in France in 1993. Fiat divested its share in Sevel Nord to PSA in 2012 but re-entered the partnership via the FCA-PSA merger, which created Stellantis in 2021. Prior to this merger, the joint operation agreement for Sevel Sud was prolonged in February 2019.
Sevel Nord
Sevel Nord (Société Européenne de Véhicules Légers) is a manufacturing facility located in Lieu-Saint-Amand, France, inaugurated in 1993 as an equal partnership between Groupe PSA (formerly PSA Peugeot Citroën) and Fiat. Since 2013, it has also been producing vans for Toyota. The third generation of light commercial vans and passenger minivans was introduced jointly by PSA and Fiat in 2016.
The plant's yearly production capacity reaches 200,000 units, supported by a workforce of approximately 2,400 employees. In 2011, output totaled around 94,000 vans, comprising roughly 74,000 Peugeot and Citroën vehicles alongside 20,000 Fiat models.
Manufacturing at Sevel Nord includes:
- Minivans/MPVs ("Eurovans") produced from 1994 to 2014:
- Citroën Synergie/Evasion/C8
- Fiat Ulysse
- Lancia Zeta/Phedra
- Peugeot 806/807
- Third-generation minivans (since 2016):
- Citroën Space Tourer
- Fiat Ulysse
- Peugeot Traveller
- Toyota ProAce Verso
- Opel Zafira Life/Vauxhall Vivaro Life
- Light commercial vehicles:
- Citroën Jumpy/Dispatch
- Fiat Scudo (1994–2015; production resumed in 2022)
- Peugeot Expert
- Toyota ProAce (from 2013 onwards)
- Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro
Sevel Atessa
Sevel Sud (Société Européenne de Véicoli Leggeri) is a substantial vehicle manufacturing complex situated in Atessa, Italy, under the ownership of Stellantis. Operational since 1981, the facility covers over 1.2 million square meters with approximately 344,000 square meters under roof. It boasts an annual output capability of 250,000 vehicles and employs nearly 6,300 workers.
In 2013, Fiat and PSA invested €700 million (€550 million from Fiat and €150 million from PSA) to develop a new generation of vans at this location within their joint venture framework, now integrated into Stellantis. The refreshed third-generation model was launched in 2014. By September 2018, production at the plant had reached its six-millionth unit—a Fiat Ducato.
Principal models manufactured include:
- First generation (1981–1994):
- Fiat Ducato
- Alfa Romeo AR6
- Peugeot J5
- Citroën C25
- Talbot Express
- Second generation (1993–2006):
- Fiat Ducato
- Peugeot Boxer/Manager
- Citroën Jumper/Relay
- Third generation (X250; from 2006 to present):
- Fiat Ducato
- Peugeot Boxer/Manager
- Citroën Jumper/Relay
- Opel Movano/Vauxhall Movano
- Toyota ProAce Max (since 2023)
Production figures at Sevel Sud between 2000 and 2007:
| Year | Total Production | Fiat Ducato | Peugeot Boxer | Citroën Jumper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 205,317 |106,464 |61,008 |37,845 | ||||
| 220,435 |126,321 |65,485 |41,806 | ||||
| 233,612 |127,351 |54,425 |38,659 | ||||
| 213,537 |124,972 |46,690 |41,875 | ||||
| 219,125 |126,166 |47,038 |45,921 | ||||
| 200,854 |110,379 |42,674 |47,801 | ||||
| 217,866 |129,796 |43,879 |44,191 | ||||
| 262,711 |154,308 |56,629 |51,774 |
Additionally, the Fiat Ducato is produced outside Europe as well—approximately 6,000 units annually in Brazil and about 15,000 units per year in Russia since 2007.
Sevel Campania
Sevel Campania S.p.A., established as the second Sevel Sud manufacturing facility located in Pomigliano d'Arco near Naples, was responsible for producing the Fiat Ducato, Talento, and the rebranded Alfa Romeo AR6 until production ceased in 1994.
Alternative uses of the Sevel acronym
The acronym Sevel was also adopted by the Argentinian branch of Fiat and Peugeot, created in December 1980, where it represented Sociedad Europea de Vehículos para Latinoamérica (European Company for Vehicles in Latin America).
Sevel Uruguay, inaugurated in 1984, managed a manufacturing site based in Montevideo.
Timeline
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