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Fiat Expects 500X to Be More Popular than 500 Mini in the US

2K views 8 replies 7 participants last post by  smark 
#1 ·


Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) expects the Fiat 500X crossover to be even more popular in North America than the 500 city car.

According to FCA senior executives, the 500X has a very important advantage for US customers compared to the 500 – its size. It will be aimed at customers looking for a larger car than the tiny 500.

“If you look at the 500, the number one reason for rejection is the size of the vehicle. We no longer have that. Our expectations would be to outsell the 500,” Jason Stoicevich, head of Fiat in North America, was quoted as saying by Reuters at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

However, the executive declined to give specific sales targets. The Fiat 500X will be launched in 100 countries, and the United States is expected to be one of its major markets. North American sales of the Fiat 500X will begin in the second quarter of next year.

At the moment, North America makes up just 60,000 of Fiat’s 1.6 million in annual vehicle sales, a figure Fiat brand’s global chief Olivier Francois described as “marginal.” However, in the case of the 500X volumes won’t be marginal, the executive said. The crossover’s case will also be helped by its optional all-wheel drive system, especially in the U.S. Northeast which typically gets snowy winters.

Fiat returned to the U.S. market in 2011, after a 16-year absence. Sales of its best-selling model, the 500, reached a maximum in 2012 and fell 18 percent last year. Overall sales for the Fiat brand were down 1.2 percent in 2013.
 
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#6 ·
IMO, it really depends on where they price it. When the 500 first came out, i liked everything about it except the price. Time has proven me right since most 500's are selling at $2K or more below MSRP. If they price this competitively right out of the gate it should sell well.
 
#7 · (Edited)
Duh. So does this spell the end of mini 500 platform? Hope not. The size of the mini 500 is the main reason why I bought one.
 
#9 ·
The 500X is a whole different platform, aim for a different consumer. It a shame Fiat keeps using the same name plate, on all it's different model. Only confusing the consumer. Only by adding a X,Y,Z. I doulbt the small 500, will fade away. The next model version, may grow in size. That seems to be the trend of current manufactures.
 
#8 ·
I don't think that's what they mean to say, lammie. There is a place in the market for the standard 500. Currently, in the US it is the only model with an ABARTH version. Olivier is putting 'Heritage' at the center of the 'X' campaign. Eliminating the model that gave birth to the 'X' would be insane.
 
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