I really, really want Fiat to give the world a replacement for the Punto. Obviously, it wouldn't be a massive seller in the UK, just so long as it sells well enough to provide me with my next used car, lol!

Judging by the interview Marchionne gave, Fiat have pretty much given up on anything other than the 500 'family' (500, 500L, 500X), although he did mention the Panda, almost as an afterthought. It seems they've accepted that the Tipo has been a failure. The fact that the 500 is now 11 years old, with only a very minor facelift two years ago, and that there is no replacement in the pipeline for the 500, Panda or Punto, shows how utterly catastrophic his leadership has been. Sorry to say it, but I fear we're seeing the final death throes of Fiat.

It looks as though there is nothing in the way of new announcements, but Sergio Marchionne has nevertheless made some interesting comments to the press.

In summary:

FCA has spent all its money developing the Alfa, Jeep and Maserati brands because profit margins are much better in the sectors where those brands compete.

So far Jeep has disappointed, but they aim to turn this around.

In the future, Fiat in Europe will consist of 500/500L/500X + Panda. The Tipo has been a flop and will more than likely be axed.

Fiat will not attempt to compete in as many segments as it has in the past because FCA no longer has the resources to do so.

They are thinking about replacing the Alfa Mito but haven't made up their minds about what this might look like. Bear in mind that this model has been around for 10 years and is based on a platform so old it was invented by Brunel.

In other words, business as usual!

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motor-shows-geneva-motor-show/fiat’s-european-focus-be-rebuilt-around-500-family

They should be getting a new leader soon, so hopefully he/she will repair the damage.

I was amused by his comment (presumably tongue in cheek, but you never know) that Jeep sales had been "lousy", but had picked up rcently, improving by 40% in the last two months, and that if sales continue to improve at that same rate (i.e. 40% every two months!!), all would be well. Lol

puntofan01 said:

They should be getting a new leader soon, so hopefully he/she will repair the damage.

Click to expand...

Too late, I fear.

I'd had hopes that we'd see a Firefly-engined Panda/500 at Geneva, and also a Euro version of the Argo to replace the Punto (which websites were strongly hinting at late last year). But nothing - if anything it seems that the direction of the mid-range Fiats is once again open to debate and that, as at Alfa several times in the last decade, the strategy is being revised.

For those of us that remember a full range of European Fiats all this is a shame, and frustrating. However, there may be some sense in the apparent madness in that Fiat Europe will consist of a small range of higher-margin products (500-branded plus Panda & 124, plus Alfa) while the volume Fiats (Mobi/Uno/Argo/Tipo) will be targetted at Latin America where they do well. I guess we have to take the global view.

Here's the Fiat press release for Geneva.

It's quite a lengthy way of saying "Nothing to see here. Move on."

Talk about poverty of ambition.

http://www.fiatpress.com/press/article/fiat-at-the-2018-geneva-international-motor-show

No Panda news at Geneva, we have to wait till "June" for Panda news.

PandaEleganza said:

I'd had hopes that we'd see a Firefly-engined Panda/500 at Geneva, and also a Euro version of the Argo to replace the Punto (which websites were strongly hinting at late last year). But nothing - if anything it seems that the direction of the mid-range Fiats is once again open to debate and that, as at Alfa several times in the last decade, the strategy is being revised.

For those of us that remember a full range of European Fiats all this is a shame, and frustrating. However, there may be some sense in the apparent madness in that Fiat Europe will consist of a small range of higher-margin products (500-branded plus Panda & 124, plus Alfa) while the volume Fiats (Mobi/Uno/Argo/Tipo) will be targetted at Latin America where they do well. I guess we have to take the global view.

Click to expand...

It's almost as though Sergio hasn't heard of economies of scale: as the 500 proves, if they get a product right, it'll sell well. Granted, it's always a gamble, but surely it's better to sell lots of small, low profit cars than few slightly higher profit cars?! :/

Apparently FIAT future will look like this:

From what we have said by Marchionne

Panda
Panda 4x4
Panda Cross
Pandone (Crossover Segment rational B)?

500
500 5p (instead of Ypsilon)
500X
500L?
Other?

Would the 500P be sold in Europe and more importantly, the UK? If so, could that potentially replace the Punto?

puntofan01 said:

Would the 500P be sold in Europe and more importantly, the UK? If so, could that potentially replace the Punto?

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Yes it could, the Ypsilon has a longer wheelbase then the 500 and Panda, they are equal.

That's a start I suppose. I can't speak for other countries, but doesn't Marchionne look at UK sales figures between 1990 and 2010, and ask himself what on earth has gone so badly wrong?! I understand the retarded obsession with "premium" brands these days, but even so, during those 20 years I mentioned, Fiat had a real presence here, and were able to hold their own against all the other mainstream brands. (Vauxhall, ford, Renault, Peugeot etc.) They had it made, and it saddens me to say they've completely lost the plot: defeat, snatched from the jaws of victory!

puntofan01 said:

They had it made, and it saddens me to say they've completely lost the plot: defeat, snatched from the jaws of victory!

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They had a heaven-sent opportunity with the 500 to capture a whole new generation of owners with no memory of the leaky, unreliable "fix it again tomorrow' rustbucket Fiats of the '70's & '80's. They could have sorted out their customer service, invested in the dealer network and spent a few more shekels sourcing some decent quality parts, and risen to the challenge of developing the next model for the future.

Instead, they did none of this and milked the existing product line for cash. Once that cash starts to dry up (and there are signs that is happening now), they will realise the future strategy needs to be more than just putting a "500-something" badge onto a cosmetically upgraded 25 yr old chassis and will likely find themselves too far behind the competition to catch up.

How many Fiats of all models are sold in the UK?
Round here the 500 is everywhere and Doblo vans out strip Citroen and Renault, VW Caddy's are now a rarity.

murphyv310 said:

How many Fiats of all models are sold in the UK?

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Browse the figures for yourself, here.

Fiat's market share in the UK so far this year is about 2% for cars and 3% for LCV's. More worrying for Fiat is that new registrations in both categories are down by about 35%.

The 500 hatchback is everywhere here too. The Punto was a success until they facelifted it in 2009, then it struggled to sell right up to the present day. The Panda 169 was a colossal success, however the 319 has never been such a hit for some reason. The 500L never really took off here. I think the 500X has been slightly more popular though. I've seen a few Tipos around, but again, it hasn't really taken off.

jrkitching: what I don't get is why they never replaced the Punto when it became apparent that the Evo was never going to match the popularity of the original Grande. They had the cash from the Panda 169 and the 500 flooding in, so even if they reused the Grande Punto platform, they could have designed a new car from it.

I love Fiats, but it saddens me to see the mess they've landed themselves in. Quite frankly, it's depressing, especially as the roads are now completely flooded with nasty soulless boxes from ford and vag.

jrkitching said:

Browse the figures for yourself, here.

Fiat's market share in the UK so far this year is about 2% for cars and 3% for LCV's. More worrying for Fiat is that new registrations in both categories are down by about 35%.

Click to expand...

Is there anywhere on that site that gives the sales figures for the whole of 2017?

jrkitching said:

Browse the figures for yourself, here.

Fiat's market share in the UK so far this year is about 2% for cars and 3% for LCV's. More worrying for Fiat is that new registrations in both categories are down by about 35%.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the link.
Blimey I had no idea it was as low as that.
Even the Skoda Estelle, managed over 17, 000 at one point.