Citroen has confirmed its small Nemo van, which like Peugeot’s Bipper is based on Fiat Professional’s Fiorino, will take the Italian brand’s Euro6 engines but not the styling updates bestowed upon the facelifted Fiorino in June.
Citroen’s UK van boss Jeremy Smith said the Nemo will “run for another couple of years” but the manufacturer is then likely to drop the model from its line-up due to its lack of financial viability.
Smith said the Berlingo light van achieves better residual values than the compact Nemo and added: “You can contract hire a Berlingo for less than a Nemo.”
Smith admitted the Nemo serves a very small market that is now dominated by Ford’s Transit Courier. He said the Nemo could make sense for customers as an outright purchase but not as a contract hire van.
Citroen’s PSA partner Peugeot will adopt a similar strategy with its Bipper model.
Nick Crossley, head of Business Sales, said: “The Bipper absorbed the Euro6 engines but not the facelift.
“The RVs are not enough to invest in the facelift.”
Crossley predicted Peugeot would cover the gap left in its portfolio by the departure of the Bipper by extending its next Partner model range.
“We have plans to develop a new Partner, it would be sensible to develop a vehicle to cover the Bipper,” he said.
The Fiat Fiorino’s Euro6 engine line-up comprises a 1.4-litre 77hp petrol unit and a pair of 1.3 turbo diesels with outputs of 80hp and 95hp.