The Fiat Punto will not be replaced
- After much procrastination and many project definitions that could have led to the replacement of the Fiat Punto by a new model produced in the Fiat plant in Tichy (Poland) for labor cost reasons, the management of the FCA group has announced that they have decided not to replace this B segment sedan that was once one of the best-selling models in Europe. From 450,000 sales recorded in Europe in 2006, the Fiat Punto dropped to 300,000 sales in 2009, then 150,000 sales in 2012 and only 50,000 sales in 2017.
- The management of the FCA Group believes that competition is too fierce in Europe in the B segment, a segment that, according to them, generates little margin. In addition, they believe that SUVs, where sales are growing, will make up more than 40% of the car market in Europe within five years, compared to 30% today. They conclude that under these circumstances, a B segment sedan project would be useless, or even counterproductive.
- As a result, the existing Fiat 500L and 500X will continue to play their role in B segment, but no Punto-style sedan will be added. The Fiat Punto should therefore end its career in 2018 or 2019, with no follow -on vehicles. As for the Fiat 500L and 500X which together totaled 200,000 sales in 2017, they will be restyled and replaced, in the same way as the Fiat 500 (A segment) which remains with the Panda (A segment) the most produced Fiat model in Europe.
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