View source for Fiat Ducato Mellor Orion

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{{Bus Model Infobox
| name = Fiat Ducato Mellor Orion
| image = YN3020 New Territories GMB 503 29-05-2023.JPG
| caption = The Fiat Ducato Mellor Orion introduced by [[Marvel Wealth Holdings]] operating on [[New Territories GMB Route 503]] (May 2023)
| othername = 
| manufacturer = Fiat
| builtat = Chassis:Italy<br/>Body: UK
| replaced = 
| year = 
| operator = [[Marvel Wealth Holdings]], [[Forever Rich Public Light Bus & Taxi]]
| nickname = 
| length = 7.470m
| width = 2.200m
| height = 2.850m
| floor = Low-floor
| door = Single-door
| weight = 
| chassis = Fiat Ducato
| body = Mellor Coachcraft Orion
| engine = 
| powerout = 178hp
| transmission = ZF 9-speed gearbox
}}
The '''Fiat Ducato Mellor Orion''' is a minibus model fitted with an Orion body by Mellor Coachcraft in the UK, using a Ducato chassis from Fiat in Italy. It is available in various lengths and configurations to suit different needs.

There are already green minibus operators introducing this model to [[Low-floor Minibus Trial Scheme|test the feasibility of low-floor minibus]] operation.

==Design==
The Ducato introduced in Hong Kong is the third generation Facelift version, equipped with a 2.3 litre Euro 6D engine and a ZF 9-speed gearbox, delivering 178 bhp without stopping to burn carbon. The 7.5 metre minibus body, made by Mellor Coachcraft in the UK, is designed to carry either 19 passengers or 17 passengers plus one wheelchair user, with a single wide door for easy loading and unloading.

The vehicle is a front-engine, front-wheel drive, low-floor minibus.

==Route Operators' Fleets==
===Green Minibuses (GMBs)===
On [[7 June]] 2021, according to a photo posted on Facebook by Yau Tsim Mong District Councillor Leslie Chan Ka-long, a green minibus operator planned to introduce the Fiat Ducato Mellor Orion, which arrived in Hong Kong on 6 June of the same year <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=lcgorgor&set=a.5535111823228415 FIAT Mellor Orion Accessible Minibus], Leslie Chan KL's facebook page.</ref><ref>[https://www.facebook.com/buslanes/posts/3004625063104565 🌟全新 香港首部 FIAT DUCATO (MELLOR Orion) 專線小巴 到港🟢🚐] (The whole-new HK first FIAT DUCATO (MELLOR Orion) green minibus arrives in HK), BusLanes.</ref> and appeared in Tsim Sha Tsui for the minibus industry to visit on [[9 June]]. <ref>[https://www.hkbuschannel.com/2021/06/fiat-ducato-mellor-orion/ Fiat Ducato (Mellor Orion body) 低地台小巴現身尖沙咀] (Fiat Ducato (Mellor Orion body) low-floor minibus appears in Tsim Sha Tsui), HK Bus Channel, 9 June 2021</ref> On [[16 June]], it went to [[Aberdeen]] and [[Sandy Bay]] for a trial run, and was also presented to the light bus trade and District Council members for a tour. <ref>[https://www.hkitalk.net/HKiTalk2/thread-2114643-1-1.html FIAT DUCATO MELLOR ORION 到訪南區] (FIAT DUCATO MELLOR ORION visits the Southern District), hkitalk.net, 16 June 2021.</ref>

In the early hours of [[6 September]] 2021, the second Fiat Ducato Mellor Orion arrived in Hong Kong, with a wheelchair parking area unlike the first one. <ref>[https://www.hkbuschannel.com/2021/09/hong-kong-2nd-mellor-orion/ 【新車速報】又有Mellor Orion低地台小巴扺港喇！] ([New bus report] Another Mellor Orion low-floor minibus arrives in HK!), HK Bus Channel, 6 September 2021.</ref> In June 2022, the Fiat Ducato Mellor Orion minibus was formally subjected to the Vehicle Type Approval inspection process. <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/buslanes/photos/a.1935760483324367/3263445017222567/ BusLanes's Facebook page post], 1 June 2022.</ref><ref>[https://www.facebook.com/minibuscollections/photos/a.2855695494646966/3115058828710630/ Minibus Collections's Facebook page post], 7 June 2022</ref>

A month later, another minibus of the same model with a wheelchair parking area arrived in Hong Kong. The first Fiat Ducato Mellor Orion minibus with a wheelchair accessible parking space completed its registration in November of the same year, and the second minibus of the same model was formally licensed in late March 2023 after a series of inspections. <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=637406858400091&set=a.2855695494646966 Minibus Collections's Facebook page post], 4 April 2023.</ref>

===Marvel Wealth Holdings===
Chassis number: SA90RN130AJ474001

[[Marvel Wealth Holdings]] introduced a Mellor Orion, licensed and registered as YN3020 on [[30 March]] 2023, which was put into operation on 29 May of the same year on [[New Territories GMB Route 503]].

<gallery>
YN3020 New Territories GMB 503 29-05-2023.JPG|The low-floor public light bus on Route 503
YN3020 New Territories GMB 503 compartment 29-05-2023(1).JPG|Compartment
YN3020 New Territories GMB 503 compartment 29-05-2023(2).JPG|Wheelchair parking location
</gallery>

===Forever Rich Public Light Bus & Taxi===
Chassis number: SA90RN130AJ474002

[[Forever Rich Public Light Bus & Taxi]] has introduced a Mellor Orion, with vehicle registration completed on [[28 November]] 2022 and licence plate YH6636, which is used to serve Kowloon routes {{KNGMB|90A}} and {{KNGMB|90B}}; however, the Transport Department has advised that the new [[coinbox]]es of the relevant models are not in stock and have to be ordered separately, and due to the relatively long vehicle body, it takes time for the operator to arrange for the drivers to familiarise themselves with the driving, and the vehicle is expected to commence service in mid April 2023 only. It is expected that the bus will not be in service until mid-April 2023. <ref>''[https://www.i-cable.com/post/?p=120531 低地台小巴｜出牌連月未投運　運輸署：司機需時熟習　有議員批試行已感不可行]'' (''Low-floor Minibus | Yet to be in operation after months of licensing; TD: Drivers need time to get used to it, DC Members criticised trial run already impracticable''), Cable News, 7 April 2023.</ref> The minibus eventually commenced operation on [[17 April]] 2023 on [[Kowloon GMB Route 90A]] <ref name = "0417notice">{{NC|TD|70556|Deployment of low-floor wheelchair accessible Public Light Bus
to Kowloon Green Minibus (GMB) Route No. 90A|notice|20230412}}</ref> and became the first minibus of the same model to carry passengers in Hong Kong.

As the commissioning dates of the above two minibuses were deferred from those specified in the tender conditions, the delay has aroused concerns and controversies among District Council members, wheelchair-bound passengers and various media, please refer to the [[Low-floor Minibus Trial Scheme#Opinions and criticism|relevant paragraphs of the article]] for details.

==Related Articles==
*[[Low-floor Minibus Trial Scheme]]
*[[Optare Solo SR]]
*[[Mercedes-Benz Sprinter]]

{{references}}

==External Links==
* [https://www.mellorbus.com/vehicles/orion/ Mellor Orion's official information], Mellor Coachcraft's official website.
* [https://www.mellorbus.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/01303-Mellor-LFBro_A4_v6-web.pdf Mellor Orion's official information chart], Mellor Coachcraft's official website.
* [https://www.hkbuschannel.com/2021/06/fiat-ducato-mellor-orion/ Fiat Ducato (Mellor Orion body) 低地台小巴現身尖沙咀] (Fiat Ducato (Mellor Orion body) appears in Tsim Sha Tsui), HK Bus Channel, 9 June 2021.
* [https://www.hkbuschannel.com/2021/09/hong-kong-2nd-mellor-orion/ 【新車速報】又有Mellor Orion低地台小巴扺港喇！] ([New bus report] Another Mellor Orion low-floor minibus arrives in HK!), HK Bus Channel, 6 September 2021.

[[Category:Bus models]]
[[Category:Low-floor Minibuses]]
[[Category:Minibuses]]
[[zh:Fiat Ducato Mellor Orion]]