Renault claims the MPV, the Multi Purpose Vehicle, the People Carrier as they call it in Britain, the Monospace as one says such a thing in France, with the Espace being the first to put on the market in 1984. Then just ignore the fact that the Chrysler Voyager Renault preceded 1983, as did the Spacewagon from Mitsubishi.
None of these three are the first MPVs, because Fiat already launched the Multipla in 1955. Based on the Fiat 600, the car offered space for six people in two rows plus a whole mountain of luggage. The Multipla remained successful for ten years, after which the plug was pulled out of the project ... An MPV is nowadays an integral part of the street scene. It looks like half the Dutch fleet today consists of such pathetic EO containers ...