While Stellantis has confirmed the current Fiat Strada half-tonne bakkie for certain markets in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa will have to wait for the next-gen version. Here’s why…

Stellantis will soon launch the Fiat Strada in various Sub-Saharan Africa countries, but it says South Africa will have to wait for the next-generation version of the half-tonne bakkie.

When the Nissan NP200 goes out of production in March 2024, there won’t be a single half-tonne bakkie on South Africa’s new-vehicle market – unless another automaker steps in, that is. For a moment, it seemed as though Fiat would be the firm to provide a replacement, with Stellantis announcing the latest Strada is “venturing into Sub-Saharan Africa”.

An ideal replacement for the NP200? Unfortunately, the current model won’t come to SA...

We asked Stellantis SA whether Mzansi was one of the countries in line to receive the half-tonner but the multinational automotive group’s local division told us the Brazilian-built Strada destined for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region was unfortunately available only in left-hand-drive form.

From what we understand, the following Sub-Saharan African countries – all of which are left-hand-drive markets, of course – will receive Fiat’s smallest bakkie: Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Guinea-Conakry, Madagascar, Rwanda and Ghana.

Only certain left-hand-drive markets in the Middle East and Africa region will launch the Strada.

But all is not lost for South African bakkie fans, with Stellantis SA telling Cars.co.za that the local market “will have to wait for the next generation, which will be available in right-hand drive as well”, before emphasising this would not take place “within 2024”.

So, when is the Strada due to enter a new generation? Well, though no official details have been released, it’s worth noting the current (2nd) generation launched in Brazil as recently as mid-2020. Considering the typically lengthy lifecycles of commercial vehicles – the original Strada was produced from 1998 until 2021, for instance – South Africa may well be in for a lengthy wait.

High-spec double-cab variants are part of the Strada range in Brazil.

Still, keep in mind Stellantis will begin assembly of the Peugeot Landtrek 1-tonne bakkie at a new Coega facility (near Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape) by “early 2026”. It’s thus not inconceivable that the next-generation Strada could also end up being assembled at this plant, though again we should stress such a (speculative) scenario would likely come only many years down the line.

In Brazil, the current Strada is available in both single-cab and double-cab form, with payload capacities of 720 kg and 650 kg, respectively. Engine options for that market include a turbocharged 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder petrol motor as well as a pair of atmospheric 4-pots displaying 1.3 and 1.4 litres.

Of course, the Strada nameplate is familiar to many South Africans, with the original model having been offered on local shores until 2012. As things stand, it’s due to make a return, though surely only many years from now…

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