Fiat ramps up 500 production to meet surging demand
Fiat's new diminutive retromobile is selling like proverbial hot-cakes, proving right early indications of the car's initial market popularity. With an initial run of 58,000 planned for this year, the Italian automaker has already received orders for 51,000 units from its dealers in Italy alone, and another 6,000 from France... just three weeks after the car's Italian launch and one week after debuting in France. Geez, does thing emit iPhones out its tailpipe?
To meet the surging demand, this year's production will increase from 58,000 to between 65 and 67,000 units, while subsequent years' production, originally earmarked at 120,000, will be increased to 140,000. In order to support the increased output, Fiat's plant in Tychy, Poland – where Fiat also produces the Panda supermini and upcoming Ford Ka following its launch next fall – will be considerably expanded, leapfrogging Fiat's largest Italian plant in Melfi to become the conglomorate's second largest worldwide, behind the Belo Horizonte plant in Brazil.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
AlexP 6:17PM (7/25/2007)
Man, I dig that little thing. It's geek-ready and the interior is hot.
Wish they were be for sale in Canada, I'd take that over a stupid Cooper anytime.
By the way, it seems to be equipped with knee airbags, can anyone confirm this? (check the pictures)
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Kendall Tawes 6:35PM (7/25/2007)
So this is not coming to North America because...why?
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B 6:41PM (7/25/2007)
This thing is SO cool!
The interior really rocks.
I would love to be able to buy this in the US. Diesel please!
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Hector 7:18PM (7/25/2007)
So is this ever coming to the USA? These would sell like hotcakes!
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ChaoZ 7:23PM (7/25/2007)
I lust for this car, moreso than the MINI Cooper, which I also adore. If only it had Japanese reliability, I would swim an ocean to get one.
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fsx 7:52PM (7/25/2007)
#1, yes the driver knee air bag is available as an option. Normal driver and passenger air bags are standard on all versions and window/side air bags are available as well, which makes a total of 7 air bags max.
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JC3 8:39PM (7/25/2007)
This vehicle uses parts from Ford's Ka in europe.Ford should use it's connections to bring it over here.
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AlexP 8:45PM (7/25/2007)
Um, Fiat at Ford dealerships... :>
OC Rider 9:40PM (7/25/2007)
They'd sell until words of Fiat reliability gets out. If they end up running for more than a Honda Fit, then they won't make it that far. I'd still want to see a lot of these of the road. I welcome the Italians, regardless of their problems.
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Don 11:45PM (7/25/2007)
That's funny...what do YOU know of Fiat's reliability?
fsx 9:54PM (7/25/2007)
JC3, as far as I know the Ka is a Ford of Europe exclusive. It would be a bit strange Ford selling a Fiat vehicle in the states when it has its own version (even though its Fiat's underpinnings). And even if Ford USA did sell the Ka over there, it wouldn't make sense to sell the 500 in Ford dealers. I don't know how the Ka will look, but I can guess that most americans would prefer it over the 500 if both were sold side by side in Ford dealers. Fiat might just be better off entering the US maket for once and for all with a new dealer network (and with more models beside the 500) or selling the 500 alongside Mareatis and, hopefully, Alfa Romeos.
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saysee 10:56PM (7/25/2007)
This shares parts with the future ford ka, not the current model. Ford partnered with fiat on development, which was most likely mostly done by fiat seeing as how the future ka and 500 are based of the existing panda. Also, early reviews say that the quality is good in terms of materials and fit and finish and the panda which it is based on has a good quality record.
fsx 10:36AM (7/26/2007)
That's absolutely right, they're both based off the Fiat Panda (the wheelbase is the same) with some improvements (for example, the Panda achieved a 3 star EuroNCap rating, but Fiat is aiming at 5 stars with the 500 - they even put the possibility of having it retested in a year when the sixth star is supposed to be introduced). The Ka will have the same underpinnings as the 500 and the same Diesel engine (Ford's small Diesel engine is not small enough for the space available).
What I mean is that if the Americans were faced with the choice between a Ford Ka (the upcoming one) and a Fiat 500, they'd most certainly choose the Ford over the Fiat if both were to be sold in Ford's dealer network. That makes it more likely that Fiat sells them in Alfa/Maserati dealers than in Ford's.
praetorian 1:09AM (7/26/2007)
Yet another example of a car that has some historical frame of reference selling like hot cakes. You have to wonder when the automakers will figure it out. The Mustang. The Bug. Soon the Challenger. Can you imagine if VW did a real bus throwback? Or if Toyota did a real fj40 throwback? Or if BMW did an updated 2002 (and no, the 1-series is not that car.)
Fire the designers, go back to your icons and start over. Better engines, same looks.
Cheers,
prat
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Mirko 5:12AM (7/26/2007)
@ChaoZ
The 500 is made at Fiat's factory in Poland. That factory also makes the Panda, which has been on the market for a few years now and has become known for it's Japanese-beating reliability.
@OC Rider
It's a few thousand Euro cheaper than a Honda Fit here.
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mrudang 11:05AM (7/28/2007)
i want email from U
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Aki 12:29PM (7/26/2007)
Not a fan of mini-cars like the Mini-Cooper, but dang that thing looks really nice. Something about the aesthetics just really works, and is classy. If reliability were good, I'd ponder getting that car. Looks cool.
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ebm14 3:46PM (7/26/2007)
It looks really cool and would sell like crazy over here.
However, being made in Poland seems to cast serious doubts of how smart these workers are. You know those Polish jokes.
The Mini Cooper is 100% cool inside and out and has an excellent maintenance program and backed by the great BMW.
ALEX P(olock) think again...
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ebm14 3:45PM (7/26/2007)
It looks really cool and would sell like crazy over here.
However, being made in Poland seems to cast serious doubts of how smart these workers are. You know those Polish jokes.
The Mini Cooper is 100% cool inside and out and has an excellent maintenance program and backed by the great BMW.
ALEX P(olock) think again...
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