Fiat Professional scoops “Green Van Manufacturer of The Year” & “City Van Of The Year” Awards

 of the Year” award for its continued efforts to reduce fuel consumption, lower emissions and reduce the overall environmental impact of its vehicles. FIAT Professional was also “Highly Commended” in the overall “Van Manufacturer of the Year” category, signifying not only the strength and breadth of the FIAT Professional model

The annual Fleet Van Awards, held at a special winner’s lunch in London yesterday, recognise the accomplishments of vehicle manufacturers, fleet operators and suppliers and are highly coveted by the light commercial vehicle industry. The judging panel includes members of the Fleet News/Fleet Van editorial team as well as an independent team of van experts. range, but also the strides that the company has made in terms of listening to its customers and responding to their requirements.

Vehicles are compared across a number of core fleet criteria, including payload, safety, technology, running costs, fuel efficiency, emissions, reliability and the aftersales service and back-up offered by the dealer network. Comfort and performance are also a significant factor in deciding the eventual winners.

The FIAT Fiorino saw off strong competition to win this year’s City Van award and the judges were particularly impressed with FIAT Fiorino for its latest MultiJet II engines, economy, practicality and the levels of fleet support and back-up through FIAT Professional’s dealer network.

Commenting on the FIAT Fiorino’s success, the Fleet Van of the Year judging panel remarked: “Vans are FIAT’s passion, especially the smaller models where it offers excellent back-up support and a strong warranty. The overall package offered by the FIAT Fiorino is outstanding. It has huge driver appeal, strong residuals and good payload. FIAT has listened to what fleets need from this size of van and it has delivered.” The FIAT Ducato was also “Highly Commended” in the “Large Van of the Year” category.

Referring to the decision to award FIAT Professional the “Green Van Manufacturer of the Year” award, the judging panel noted: “FIAT has focused on the practical application of technology to ensure its vehicles minimise the use of fossil fuels. From its efficient MultiJet engines to the Blue&Me telematics technology which manages driver behaviour, FIAT is equipping fleets with the tools to set their own agenda on the environment.”

Sebastiano Fedrigo, Director, FIAT Professional UK, commented: “We are absolutely delighted to be recognised by the Fleet Van judges for our hard work in making FIAT Professional vehicles as ecologically sound as possible – this not only benefits the environment, it also helps to dramatically lower running costs which makes it a win-win scenario for fleet users.”

He continued: “We are also delighted to see the FIAT Fiorino scoop the “City Van of the Year” award for a second time – when it was first launched it redefined the standards of its segment and it continues to provide customers with a winning combination of practicality, comfort, reliability and economy.”

Prices for the FIAT Fiorino start at £11,095 (basic price) for the Fiorino Cargo 1.3 MultiJet II Diesel 75, rising to £13,725 for the Fiorino Adventure Combi (M1) 1.3 MultiJet II Diesel 95.