Fiat may give up the name Punto in 2016 in favor of 500 Plus
- We had to wait a long time the decision of the Fiat-Chrysler group regarding the replacement or not of one of its best-selling model in the last twenty years, the Fiat Punto.
- More than 500,000 Puntos were sold per year between 1994 and 2001 (it was the best selling car in Europe in 1997), before experiencing an unstoppable decline from 2001 (110,000 units sold in 2013).
- The Fiat Punto, a model launched in 2005 and getting aged, has trouble to develop in a hyper competitive B segment face to other Fiat models (500, 500L) much more fashionable.
- Wishing to ride on the wave of its favorite model “500”, Fiat could therefore give up the name Punto in favour of 500 Plus.
The 500 name would be a generic name for a family of models covering the A-B segments: sedans (500, 500 Plus), SUV (500 X) and MPVs (500L and 500L Living).
The 500 name would be a generic name for a family of models covering the A-B segments: sedans (500, 500 Plus), SUV (500 X) and MPVs (500L and 500L Living).
- Fiat will produce this new model in Poland, in Tichy plant where the Fiat 500 is currently assembled. The two other models produced by Fiat In Tichy, the Ford KA and the Lancia Ypsilon will achieve their lifesoon (Ford KA in 2016)
- Fiat plans to produce 180,000 units per year of the future 500 Plus, out of which 96% will be exported. The Punto is currently produced in Melfi, Italy and the plant capacity released will be assigned to the SUVs Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500X .
