Fiat, synonymous to many shoppers with inexpensive motoring, is apparently planning to introduce a low-cost brand in late 2010 for the Western European market. Initially, Fiat had only planned to introduce the low-cost brand to emerging markets, like Brazil and Eastern Europe, but with the recent global economic downturn, the Italian automaker is apparently serious about bringing the low-cost cars to comparatively prosperous Western Europe.
Fiat hasn’t released many details about the brand other than that it will arrive in Western European showrooms in 2010 as a 2011 model. The cars could be built in Italy, Poland or Serbia and would likely include a sedan – initially intended for sedan-friendly markets like South America – and a hatchback. Pricing would be lower than comparable Fiat models, which have moved marginally upscale.
Fiat’s 500 was once the brand’s cheap city car, but the latest generation is more of a lifestyle vehicle, so competition between the two would likely be small.
The Italian automaker is looking to capitalize on the phenomenal success French automaker Renault has had by bringing its Romanian-built Dacia brand to Western Europe. Renault took advantage of inexpensive Romanian labor to produce a sedan, hatchback and MPV, the least expensive of which starts below 8,000 euros.
11/26, 2:06 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Fiat + Tata = FiaTata.
They were discussing some collaborations, if I remember correctly, and now we know that the bastard love-child will be the FiaTata PandaNano 500, now on sale at an Alfa dealer near you …. and next to the Kebap house.
11/26, 2:12 PM
posted by:
Borat
There is Peugeot/Citroen/Toyota on sale also for 7500 EU’s. And they are probably will be more reliable then Dacia cum Renault. Those are build in France (sort of like NUMMI of Europe). Although all 3 produced in the same factory of the same components by same workers, Citroen is the cheapest of the trio( go figure?).
Speaking of FIAT 500, It is neither FIAT (made in Poland and T in FIAT stands for Turin) nor 500, but drives great and should as expensive as Dacia.
11/26, 2:22 PM
posted by:
casualobserver
um, I thought FIAT was a low cost brand.
11/26, 2:41 PM
posted by:
pavlindrom
@casualobserver: not low enough, you see…
11/26, 4:20 PM
posted by:
ente
Borat: Do you think the Citroën C1 and the Dacia Logan MCV are in the same class?
Fiat bought the Zastava few weeks ago so have a plant is Serbia.
11/26, 5:33 PM
posted by:
TOZO
I bet they’ll just bring Zastava in, but those cars are so ugly and aged. If they do, with new cars hopefully. A Yugo return sounds like a nightmare.
11/26, 8:25 PM
posted by:
Vosotros
I would love to have Fiats over here. I rented a 500 in September when I was in Italy visiting family. Heck of a car
11/27, 6:02 AM
posted by:
strassenlage
=> Borat : the Citroën-Peugeot-Toyota trio starts with the C1 at 8 450 euros on the French market – cheaper than its two twins for it does not come standard with a power-assisted direction in its first trim. So not as cheap as the Dacia Logan (7 600 euros), and much smaller, more city-orientated.
Furthermore, these cars are not built in France, but in Kolin, Czech Republic. Both Dacia and C1-107-Aygo are reliable cars according to durabilty tests and the press, Dacia using long proven Renault parts and few completely new electronic devices, the triplets taking advantage of Toyota’s top quality production system.