NF500 / forbes

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has reaffirmed the company’s desire to launch the Fiat 500 brand in the United States. However, and in contradiction to quotes from the Fiat CEO published by Forbes only a matter of weeks ago, Marchionne stated his desire to introduce a second Fiat 500 production site in the USA.

The full quote, taken on the sidelines of a foreign policy forum in Venice, reads

We are examining ways and means to manufacture the cars in the United States, I don’t want to bring it over made. I want to manufacture [in the North American free-trade area]

You have to feel a little pity for any American eagerly awaiting the Fiat 500, the situation gets more confusing with every turn.

Forbes are today echoing reports from October last year regarding Fiat’s intentions to increase annual production of the new 500 model to 190,000 vehicles from the start of 2009.

We’re not sure if this is new news, because Sergio Marchionne was quoted as saying as much in October 2007, but if it is a reaffirmation on Fiat’s part, then that’s got to be a good sign of their confidence in the continued success of the Fiat 500, no doubt boosted by the hype and hysteria surrounding the 500 Abarth model and Aria concept due to show at Geneva next month.