NF500 / ceo

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has once again stressed his desire to relaunch the Fiat brand, and the Cinquecento in particular, in the USA; if only they could find a way to sell it.

Apparently Fiat are seriously considering following in the footsteps of Smart by teaming up with a dealer network with a strong US base to distribute the 500 in America. This would ideally lead to an established and trusted brand stateside offering a foot in the door for Fiat, who haven’t had their own dealer presence there for 25 years.

In an article published on Just-Auto.com, Marchionne is quoted as saying

I am convinced that the full range of the Cinquecento would be a huge smash in the US if we do it right…. I think the full Cinquecento product range is a brand within a brand and can probably carry the market - we’re looking real hard at this now.

Fiat representatives have been quoted in the past as wanting to emulate the success of the MINI Cooper stateside, however MINI had the distinct advantage of a ready and willing BMW dealer network who put not an inconsiderable investment into making the brand a success, with the aid of some very clever marketing. It will be interesting to see how Fiat can make waves to the same degree without a strong parent company to piggy back on.

If anyone ever needed a car giving to them, it has to be an internationally renown top class footballer.  Fortunately for Juventus captain and World Cup winner Alessandro Del Piero, Fiat have (so far as our translation tools and skills can figure) gifted him with an exclusive No.10 new Fiat 500.

Lorenzo Sistino, CEO of Fiat Automobiles, handed the new 500 to Del Piero at the Mirafiori Motor Village, inside the historic Mirafiori plant in Turin.  The 500 in question is a 1.4 Sport model with automatic air conditioning, fog lamps, and red painted brake callipers listed among its optional extras.

We’re not sure if there’s any kind of charity tie in or if it’s a pure case of “give a footballer a free car, get some cool credits in return”, but we really hope it’s the former, or he actually paid for it.  If anyone knows for sure, we’d love to know score here!

Automotive News have reported Today that the new Fiat 500, in Abarth form in particular, could well be sold in the USA.

This isn’t a new rumour, but when it’s Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne who’s the one doing the gossiping, it surely adds some rather juicy fruits to the grape vine!

Apparently Marcionne has said he would like to sell an Abarth 500 in the US in competition with BMW’s MINI Cooper and Volvo’s C30.

The bad news is that if this happens at all, it wont be until at least 2010. Before Fiat can even begin to make this dream a reality they will have to get themselves back on track in the USA with the Alfa Romeo badge (who’s design team is now headed up by Frank Stephenson, who also lead the design team on the new 500).

Could the new 500 AND the new MINI Cooper prove cult smashes in the USA? Who knows, but we’d care to bet there’d be a lot of people excited by the prospect.

The new Fiat 500 has proved exceptionally popular, even before launch Fiat proudly proclaimed orders in excess of 25,000 vehicles.

Now Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has stated his aspirations for the little car, suggesting that the new 500, being launched Tonight (4th July), can be for the automaker what the iPod has been for Apple.

In an interview published in Wednesday’s La Stampa Marchionne, who openly seeks inspiration from successful companies, spoke of his admiration for the iPod’s cutting edge marriage of value, function, and style.

I want Fiat to become the Apple of automobiles. And the 500 will be our iPod

Fiat plan to sell 50,000 new 500s before the end of 2007, and analysts are suggesting that the new Fiat 500 will do as much (if not more) for the image of the Fiat brand, as it will do for the coffers of the Italian car company.