All the world loves the Fiat 500

Fiat brand chief Lorenzo Sistino reports that the new Fiat 500, Europe's car of the Year 2008, is a great success all over the world. He gives the example of Japan where Fiat expected to sell 3,000 Fiat 500s in a full year and had 1,300 orders within days of the car's launch.

Fiat says that the little car has done wonders for Fiat's image. It appeals to all income groups with no gender or age restrictions. Research has shown that for 40 percent of buyers, the Fiat 500 is an emotional purchase; they don't really need a new car and wouldn't be buying one other than Fiat 500.

Mr. Sistino admits that a retro car like the Fiat 500 which cleverly takes design cues from the 1950s Fiat Cinquecento, is going to be difficult to replace. A homage to the bigger Fiat 600 of the 1960s is unlikely to enjoy the same popularity.
So, following BMW's strategy with the Mini, Fiat will introduce a new variant of the Fiat 500 every six months.

The first of those coming out is the high performance Abarth 500. Next will see the convertible and toward the end of 2009, the Giardinera estate car.

The Fiat 500 production at the Fiat factory in Poland, originally planned at 120,000 year, has already been increased to 150,000. Fiat expects it to reach 190,000 this year.

It has been speculated that the Zastava factory in Serbia which Fiat plans to acquire will become the overflow for production for the Fiat 500.