In 2011 the owner of Santana, the Government of Andalusia, decided to close down the company and its car factory and 1,341 people were laid off or retired prematurely.

The Massif bears a clear family resemblance to its sister product, the Santana PS-10, which itself was heavily based on the Land Rover Series.

The decision to have selectable four-wheel drive is based on already available solution, permanent 4x4 need costly components (central differential) and development.

The Massif is fitted with parabolic suspension all round, as opposed to the coil springs of its contemporary, the Land Rover Defender.

The Massif can also be specified with a variety of transmission or transfer box power take-off units and electrical connections on the body work to increase its attraction to commercial users further.

The interior of the Massif had been overhauled from the Santana PS-10 version to make it more competitive with the recently updated Land Rover Defender.

A "heavy duty" version of the Massif with a 3.5 tonne GVW and towing capacity was also in development for commercial users.

Launch models had been heavily promoted with advertising showing the All Blacks New Zealand rugby union squad as Iveco had signed up as the main sponsor of the team.

Iveco also announced that a military specification of the Massif would have been available, being fully air-portable similarly to its sister vehicle, the Santana PS-10.

This model received standard anti-lock braking, power locks, air conditioning, a body-coloured roof, and a rear wiper, amongst other extras.