Ebro trucks
Encyclopedia
Ebro trucks was a Spanish brand of light and medium truck
s and bus
es, as well as all-wheel-drive utility vehicles and agricultural tractors, based mainly in Barcelona
, Madrid
, and Ávila.
Ebro parent company, Motor Ibérica, was set up in 1954 to build British-designed Ford trucks under license, Ebro range being based on Ford's Thames Trader
. During the late-1960s and early-1970s the company took over four Spanish light vehicle makers: Fadisa, (Alfa Romeo Romeo
vans), Aisa (Avia
trucks), Siata (SEAT
car derived minivans), and Viasa (various Jeep
4x4s and Forward Control
utility vehicles), in addition to the Spanish branch of Perkins engines.
This resulted in a real frenzy of badge engineering
, as one could see Avia-badged Jeeps, Ebro-badged Alfa-Romeos, and so on. Meanwhile, Ebro introduced tilt-cab Ford 'D'-Series derived models for loads of between l'/2 and 7 tons and gradually added new models until the range covered 2- and 3-axle rigids and articulated types from 3 to 27 tons capacity.
Ebro also entered the agricultural tractor market through a license agreement with Massey-Ferguson, which eventually led to the later becoming Motor Iberica controlling shareholder.
In the 1980, Ebro launched the 'E'-Series trucks range, comprising some six models from 3,500 to 11,200 kg gross, and the 'P'-Series for gross weights of 13,000 to 27,000 kg.
In 1979 Nissan Motors
(not Nissan Diesel, the truck arm) had taken a stake in Motor Iberica, and took complete control in 1987. From then on the company was named Nissan Motor Iberica. During a short period, Japanese Kubota
tractors were assembled and marketed in Spain as Ebro-Kubota.
Following the Nissan takeover, a "badge slide" from Ebro to Nissan took place. This was not without surprising occurrences, such as Ebro-badged Nissan Patrol
s that were sold in some European countries.
Currently, Spanish Nissan trucks are produced in the Avila plant.
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
s and bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es, as well as all-wheel-drive utility vehicles and agricultural tractors, based mainly in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, and Ávila.
Ebro parent company, Motor Ibérica, was set up in 1954 to build British-designed Ford trucks under license, Ebro range being based on Ford's Thames Trader
Thames Trader
The Thames Trader was a range of trucks manufactured by the British arm of the Ford Motor Company built between 1957 and 1965.-Design:The distinctive cab design, which sets it apart from other British commercial vehicles, was a forward-control design and the Thames Trader model covered a much...
. During the late-1960s and early-1970s the company took over four Spanish light vehicle makers: Fadisa, (Alfa Romeo Romeo
Alfa Romeo Romeo
The first Alfa Romeo lorry was built in 1914 using the 20/30HP chassis. The company built also other commercial vehicles during the early days of the company, in 1954 a new small van family was created, the "Autotutto" .- Alfa Romeo Romeo :...
vans), Aisa (Avia
Avia Vehicles
Avia was the brand name under which the commercial vehicles built by the Spanish Aeronáutica Industrial S. A. company were marketed....
trucks), Siata (SEAT
SEAT
SEAT, S.A. is a Spanish automobile manufacturer founded on May 9, 1950 by the Instituto Nacional de Industria , a state-owned industrial holding company....
car derived minivans), and Viasa (various Jeep
Jeep
Jeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler . The first Willys Jeeps were produced in 1941 with the first civilian models in 1945, making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second...
4x4s and Forward Control
Jeep Forward Control
The Jeep Forward Control is a truck that was produced by Willys and then Kaiser Jeep from 1956 to 1965. It was also assembled in other international markets. The layout featured a cab over design.- Design :...
utility vehicles), in addition to the Spanish branch of Perkins engines.
This resulted in a real frenzy of badge engineering
Badge engineering
Badge engineering is an ironic term that describes the rebadging of one product as another...
, as one could see Avia-badged Jeeps, Ebro-badged Alfa-Romeos, and so on. Meanwhile, Ebro introduced tilt-cab Ford 'D'-Series derived models for loads of between l'/2 and 7 tons and gradually added new models until the range covered 2- and 3-axle rigids and articulated types from 3 to 27 tons capacity.
Ebro also entered the agricultural tractor market through a license agreement with Massey-Ferguson, which eventually led to the later becoming Motor Iberica controlling shareholder.
In the 1980, Ebro launched the 'E'-Series trucks range, comprising some six models from 3,500 to 11,200 kg gross, and the 'P'-Series for gross weights of 13,000 to 27,000 kg.
In 1979 Nissan Motors
Nissan Motors
, usually shortened to Nissan , is a multinational automaker headquartered in Japan. It was a core member of the Nissan Group, but has become more independent after its restructuring under Carlos Ghosn ....
(not Nissan Diesel, the truck arm) had taken a stake in Motor Iberica, and took complete control in 1987. From then on the company was named Nissan Motor Iberica. During a short period, Japanese Kubota
Kubota
, is a tractor and heavy equipment manufacturer based in Osaka, Japan. One of its notable contributions was to the construction of the Solar Ark. The company was established in 1890.The company produces many products including:...
tractors were assembled and marketed in Spain as Ebro-Kubota.
Following the Nissan takeover, a "badge slide" from Ebro to Nissan took place. This was not without surprising occurrences, such as Ebro-badged Nissan Patrol
Nissan Patrol
The Nissan Patrol is a four-wheel drive vehicle manufactured by Nissan in Japan since 1951. In Japan since 1980, it has been known as the Nissan Safari. The Patrol is available in Australasia, Central and South America, South Africa, parts of Southeast Asia and Western Europe as well as Iran and...
s that were sold in some European countries.
Currently, Spanish Nissan trucks are produced in the Avila plant.