Coming To America… The Fiat 500 At A Dealership Near You

[xcel]

Chrysler begins the process of establishing Fiat Dealer network.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - July 5, 2010

2011 Fiat 500 – US Pricing and FE data is unknown at this time.

Cute and surely fun to drive but will they sell in quantities that make sense? The Smart Fortwo saw just 577 units sold in June?

In a surprising July 5th announcement, Chrysler said it has begun the dealer selection process for the reintroduction of the Fiat brand into the United States.

The Fiat brand in the U.S. will feature the New Fiat 500, which recently celebrated the 53rd anniversary of its introduction in Europe. Dealers will begin selling the iconic Fiat 500 late this year and the Fiat 500 Cabrio in 2011.

Chrysler expects to select dealers in about 125 markets identified for growth potential in the small-car segment. Fiat dealers will be located in approximately 41 states.

“The Fiat dealer network will be appropriately sized to serve the market opportunity,” said Peter Grady, Vice President of Network Development and Fleet, Chrysler Group LLC. “Our vision is to establish a dealer network that will reflect and enhance the brand’s reputation for innovation and fun, and will offer a unique, personalized customer experience.”

Chrysler Group will send Dealer Application Guides to dealers in the identified markets containing specific Fiat dealer requirements and instructions on submitting a proposal. The guide presents details on facility, sales strategy, accessory sales, service and parts departments, training curriculum and financial requirements.

Dealers must demonstrate how they will market, sell and service Fiat vehicles with a new customer service model. Basic guidelines include the following:

• Location – The majority of dealerships will be located in the identified markets.
  
  
• Eligible Dealers – Proposals from Chrysler Group’s best performing dealers will have preference in the identified markets.
  
  
• Dealer Performance – Chrysler Group will evaluate interested dealers on volume performance, minimum sales responsibility accomplishment, capitalization and overall Dealer Standards score. In addition, the company will individually evaluate the proposed facility and customer handling metrics.
  
  
• Fiat Facility – A completely separate facility will be required to represent the Fiat brand.
  
  
• Fiat Team – A separate Fiat team will be required to sell and service the Fiat brand.
  
  
• Fiat Standards – Fiat standards will be unique from existing Chrysler Group Dealer Standards.
  
  
• Financial – Dealer candidates will have to show that they have the financial resources necessary to support the introduction of the Fiat brand.

Chrysler plans to officially announce its U.S. Fiat dealer network locations in September.

[ILAveo]

It will be interesting to see if they try to limit the Dodge brand to trucks and minivans. Daimler already shelled out the engineering department over there, so eliminating Dodge cars by importing the Fiat brand and designs would be one way to focus their limited resources.

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Originally Posted by ILAveo

It will be interesting to see if they try to limit the Dodge brand to trucks and minivans. Daimler already shelled out the engineering department over there, so eliminating Dodge cars by importing the Fiat brand and designs would be one way to focus their limited resources.

They have to do the Charger too. Chrysler Charger or Alfa Charger just wouldn't seem right.

[PaleMelanesian]

It has a back seat, right? I see that as a big benefit to this car over the Smart. I would not consider buying a Smart (or miata or CR-Z or...) due to this limitation. A 500 would be on my consideration list before any of those.

[xcel]

Hi Andrew:

It has a back seat but only if you are within the age of 2 to 4 would it be "considered" a back seat. This is another size smaller than a Yaris.

Good Luck

Wayne

[PaleMelanesian]

Well then, that'd be just perfect, since I have a 2 and a 4 year old to put back there.

Yes, I am (painfully) aware that they grow up.

[MaxxMPG]

What I found online -
"The Fiat 500 can accommodate, at the same time, a driver of the 90 percentile (about 6'1") and a rear passenger of the 70 percentile (about 5'9") comfortably, within a space of only 139 inches (3.5 meters). Drivers of up to 6'6" have reported being comfortable in the 500. Fiat achieved this by drawing upon it's 70 years of advanced small car design."

"The rear seat of the Fiat 500 has 35.6 inches (904mm) of headroom and 32.2 inches (818mm) of legroom."

Not sure if these numbers come from the standard (and therefore comparable) measure of head and leg room or if they are "optimized" to make the car seem larger inside than it is. Another website states 22.2" from rear seat backrest to rear of front seat backrest (front seat position not specified), so it seems that footroom as well as legroom would be tight for anyone old enough to know their multiplication tables.

[Chuck]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

It has a back seat, right? I see that as a big benefit to this car over the Smart. I would not consider buying a Smart (or miata or CR-Z or...) due to this limitation. A 500 would be on my consideration list before any of those.

[Diesel Lover]

They're rubbish, don't get them, they'll fall apart as soon as you buy them and depreciate like a bitch.

First hand experience with it and its cousin, the Ford Ka.

[PaleMelanesian]

So you're saying "Fix It Again Tony" still applies? That's really too bad, and definitely not what Chrysler needs.