If the Panda was axed I'm sure the Italians would have something to say.
Am I not correct in saying that the Panda outsells the 500 in Italy?

Yes looking at these sales figures http://carsalesbase.com/european-car-sales-data/fiat/fiat-panda/ the Panda still sales extremely well across Europe and I'm not sure a 5 door 500 would be able to pickup these sales if the Panda was dropped.

I think what is more likely is we get a new 500 announced this year and the new Panda will be around in 2020.

kuliand said:

Yes looking at these sales figures http://carsalesbase.com/european-car-sales-data/fiat/fiat-panda/ the Panda still sales extremely well across Europe .

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So based on the sales figures on the above website, why would anyone choose to favour one over the other (or to discontinue either one) ?

chr1s said:

So based on the sales figures on the above website, why would anyone choose to favour one over the other (or to discontinue either one) ?

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Knowing the 500 is more expensive, in theory it sells better then de Panda.

puntofan01 said:

That would make sense, as the 500 is by far the older design, plus it's Fiats' cash cow.

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While the margins on the small 500 are better than the Panda's (but not by as much as they were), Fiat makes more than half as many more Pandas than 500s, so the Panda keeps the tills ringing. The big so-called 500 is the real cash cow.

babbo_umbro said:

The big so-called 500 is the real cash cow.

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The 500L? It's certainly a cow.

Is the 500 still selling that well these days? It used to be a regular in the top 10 new car sales in the UK in practically any given month, but I'm not sure that's the case any more.

I'd be genuinely shocked if the Panda wasn't continued and the focus was solely on 500-based models. Can't see that happening any time soon. But it is Fiat and you never quite know!

Apparently a 500 badge make al the difference.

The next Generation Panda looks doubtful and is still under consideration.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THIS.

The Brazilian Argo will be rebadged as "New Fiat Panda" and will be build in Poland, and sold for Panda prices.
This is not unthinkable, because the Present Panda is based on the Brazilian UNO.
The most expensive Argo 1.8 HGT in Brazil cost ± € 16.000,-

Fiat apparently organises an Investors Day on June, 1st - I expect we'll hear more then.

The Pretender said:

The next Generation Panda looks doubtful and is still under consideration.
,-

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Unlikely as it’s the biggest selling car in Italy afaik

Mercky said:

Unlikely as it’s the biggest selling car in Italy afaik

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April 2018 Italia, only 8827 Panda's sold, same time last year 11873.
Panda sales are dropping rap-pertly.

March 2018 there where 13.484 Panda's sold.

Maybe they should just rebrand the Panda as the 500+?

oyumurtaci said:

Maybe they should just rebrand the Panda as the 500+?

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With a 500 nose and some rear end changes, and 500 interior and you can call it a 5-door 500.

Don't assume they are making considerably more money out of a 500 or L or X as a Panda. Earlier those cars may have been selling to retail while now more of the production is ending up in car rental lots just to keep the production lines open.
I'd guess FIAT would want to use that Mexico production line more productively and with tariff so low between EU and US on autos they could be tempted to move 500 production back to Europe.
sales also are only a portion of the profit; they make money on sales of parts afterward and that isn't dependent on whether it was a cheap Panda or a higher specification 500.

Panda production is moving back to Tychy, Poland - source: this weeks Autocar.

ghostofbillywilson said:

Panda production is moving back to Tychy, Poland - source: this weeks Autocar.

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Only if there will be a 4th Gen Panda.
The present Panda production does not move to Tychy.

I think the next Panda (if there would be one) should go back to basics.
Smaller, lighter, less expensive, with nice 3 cilinder GSE-Firefly Turbo engines in it with 80-120 hp.

Or go full electric.

They are not going to let 190k units of sales slip through their fingers. There will be replacement. I just hope it is something somewhat new rather than a cynical re-hashing of the existing platform.

They've already got the 500x so the de rigeur SUV/CUV is already on the market.

ghostofbillywilson said:

They are not going to let 190k units of sales slip through their fingers. There will be replacement. I just hope it is something somewhat new rather than a cynical re-hashing of the existing platform.

They've already got the 500x so the de rigeur SUV/CUV is already on the market.

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There is not so much new within FCA.
I don't know a new small platvorm that can be used for a next gen Panda.
Even the Brazilian FIAT's are based on evolution platforms.
Apparently the newest platvorm is the FCA MP1, used for the new Argo.
Making the Argo the best base for next gen Panda and 500.
But the next gen Panda could easily be a 5-door 500.