Tuesday 9th January 2007

Fiat takes big stride forward

Grande Punto leads Fiat from the wilderness

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Fiat Grande Punto

Fiat has bucked the trend in the motor trade and made a massive sales leap forward.

The UK's fastest growing marque, it sold 58,831 cars last year – up by over 64 per cent year-on-year – in a market down by 3.9 per cent over the same period. In percentage terms, the company’s 2006 market share stands at 2.51 per cent, compared with 1.47 per cent (35,828 units) the previous year.

Yes the company was doing particularly poorly but it suggests that there's still a lot of people out there willing to give Fiat another go. And the charge was led by the success of the company’s new Grande Punto, which went on sale here at the beginning of 2006 to widespread acclaim. It resulted in performance in this sector of the market (B-segment or supermini), that's particularly noteworthy, up 140% year-on-year in spite  of the introduction of cars such as the Vauxhall Corsa.

Naturally, Fiat's over the moon about this and it'll certainly help with the bank balance, which has been haemorrhaging red ink in recent years.

“Obviously the Fiat team in the UK is pleased to have achieved the goals we set ourselves for 2006,” said Fiat UK boss Giulio Salomone. "We will be working hard to consolidate the re-launch of our brand in the UK, with some additions to our Grande Punto range, and with the launch of our fantastic new Bravo here this summer, along with key priorities, such as network development, customer satisfaction, business sales and the internet; as we prepare for the introduction of our stunning new baby, the Cinquecento, early in 2008. This iconic car is already beginning to capture the public’s imagination, and I am certain it will play a key role in taking our brand to another level.

“Customer awareness of our company is rising rapidly, and our latest TV advertising with Grande Punto reflects the younger buyer profile we are attracting.”

In spite of some well-documented dogs, Fiat's always been best at fizzing little cars that you can have fun in, and it would be a loss to all of us if that were to disappear.

[Lord-Flasheart]

As long as they build (and style) them properly then they should do just fine.


Anyone remember that guy in the audience on Top Gear who thought Fiat were French?

Edited by Lord-Flasheart on Tuesday 9th January 10:00

[Wombat Rick]

Interesting article in Evo this month about Luca di Montezoooma moving head Ferrari honchos across to Fiat with the brief "sort it out". Sounds like there's some good new stuff on the way. Obviously UK buyers probably won't go for it, but it all sounds positive.

Edited by Wombat Rick on Tuesday 9th January 10:31

[velocemitch]

Not much wrong with Grande Punto