Fiat 500 – Click above for high-res image gallery
The Chrysler Group is only a few months away from bringing the Fiat brand back to the United States, starting with the launch of the too-cute 500 later this year. The automaker will be holding a Fiat Experience event in Detroit at the end of August, and around 600 dealers from around the country have been invited to attend.
These 600 dealers are located in cities where Chrysler is planning to have Fiat franchises – a total of 119 different markets around the country. The Fiat Experience program will give dealers a detailed overview of Chrysler’s exact plans for the brand in the U.S., and dealers will be allowed to submit proposals for snagging a Fiat franchise through mid-September.
No, not all of these 600 dealers will be approved for Fiat franchises, and Chrysler will be announcing its final list of Fiat locations in the fourth quarter of 2010. Hit the jump to see the current list of market considerations to find out if a Fiat dealer might be heading to a city near you.
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[Source: Chrysler]
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Chrysler Group LLC Invites Dealers to Fiat Experience
– About 600 Chrysler Group LLC dealers invited to the Fiat Experience
– Chrysler Group to present details on Fiat retail network plans
– Interested dealers to submit Fiat dealership proposals in September
– Dealers to be chosen for Fiat franchises in early October
August 9, 2010 , Auburn Hills, Mich.
Chrysler Group LLC has invited about 600 of its dealers to attend the Fiat Experience on Aug. 30 in Detroit as it takes another step closer to reintroducing the Fiat brand, starting with the new Fiat 500, in the United States later this year.
The approximately 600 dealers were informed today that they are in one of the U.S. markets where Chrysler Group is currently planning representation for the Fiat brand. Chrysler Group has identified 119 markets in the U.S. with strong small-car registrations and growth potential in the small-car segment over the next five years.
The Fiat Experience will provide the dealers with a comprehensive overview of Chrysler Group’s plans for Fiat in the U.S. Dealers may submit proposals for a Fiat franchise through Sept. 22.
“The requirements for Fiat are straightforward: separate sales and display at launch, transitioning to a full dealership facility as the volume grows,” said Peter Grady, Chrysler Group’s Vice President of Network Development and Fleet. “Our goal is to establish a retail network appropriately sized to serve the market opportunity.”
The email was sent to dealers today from Grady and Laura Soave, Head of Fiat North America.
Chrysler Group, in selecting its Fiat dealers, will consider a number of measures, including:
– Dealer sales performance
– Plan for a separate Fiat facility
– Comprehensive marketing plan
– Compliance on dealer standards
– Proper capitalization
Chrysler Group will announce its Fiat dealers in the fourth quarter.
Current U.S. Fiat Market Considerations – By State
Alabama
Birmingham
Arkansas
Little Rock
Arizona
Phoenix
Tucson
California
Los Angeles
Orange County
Palm Springs
Riverside
San Diego
San Fernando
San Gabriel
Ventura County
Concord
Oakland
Sacramento
San Francisco
San Jose
San Rafael
Colorado
Denver
Connecticut
Bristol
Hartford
Bridgeport
Stamford
New Haven
Delaware
Wilmington
Florida
Daytona Beach
Ft. Lauderdale-Broward
Fort Myers
Jacksonville
Miami-Dade
Orlando
Sarasota
St. Petersburg
Tampa
New Port Richey
Winter Haven
Palm Beach
Bradenton
Venice
Melbourne
Georgia
Atlanta
Newnan
Hawaii
Honolulu
Illinois
Chicago South
Chicago Central
Chicago North
Chicago West
Collinsville
Indiana
Indianapolis
Gary
Kansas
Kansas City
Kentucky
Louisville
Louisiana
New Orleans
Massachusetts
Boston
Springfield
Worcester
Maryland
Baltimore
Frederick
Washington
Maine
Portland
Michigan
Detroit
Minnesota
Minneapolis
Missouri
St. Louis
Nebraska
Omaha
Nevada
Las Vegas
New Jersey
Bergen- Passaic
Essex N. Union
Mid Union
Morris
Flemington
New Mexico
Albuquerque
New York
Bronx
Brooklyn
Manhattan
Nassau
Queens
South Hampton
Spring Valley
Staten Island
Suffolk
Westchester
Albany
Buffalo
Rochester
Newburgh
North Carolina
Charlotte
Raleigh/Durham
Ohio
Cincinnati
Columbus
Dayton
Cleveland
Akron
Toledo
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City
Tulsa
Oregon
Portland
Pennsylvania
Allentown
Philadelphia
Greensburg
Pittsburgh
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
Providence
Tennessee
Chattanooga
Memphis
Nashville
Texas
Austin
Houston
San Antonio
Dallas
Fort Worth
El Paso
Utah
Salt Lake City
Virginia
Fredericksburg
Hampton
Norfolk
Richmond
Fairfax
Washington
Seattle
Tacoma
Wisconsin
Milwaukee