Fiat sees potential in U.S. for SUV-styled 500L
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LOS ANGELES -- Fiat sees potential in the United States for the 500L Trekking, an SUV-styled variant of its 500L small minivan
The 500L Trekking was unveiled a the Los Angeles auto show on Wednesday. It offers higher ground clearance, bigger wheels, rugged wheel arches and an electronically controlled front differential that increases traction on slippery surfaces.
"We think the Trekking version could cover up to 50 percent of 500L sales in the United States compared with about 15 percent we expect in Europe," Fiat brand global head Olivier Francois told Automotive News Europe.
Fiat introduced the standard 500L in Europe in September. The Trekking variant will have its European debut at the Geneva auto show in March, ahead of sales in April. In the United States, both 500L variants will launch simultaneously in July. Fiat has not announced U.S. pricing yet.
Francois said it is difficult to predict U.S. sales for the 500L, adding that the model has no direct competitors in the market.
"A reference point could be the Mini Countryman, which in the U.S. sells about 20,000 units a year, but we could even double that volume if we find the right positioning," Francois said.
Fiat builds the 500L for global markets in Kragujevac, Serbia in factory that once built Yugo cars. The plant has been upgraded with a 1 billion euro investment.
Fiat plans to build about 28,000 units of the 500L this year and 140,000 next year, of which 40,000 will be exported to the United States. Production of the European version began in July and the U.S. variant will follow in February.
You can reach Luca Ciferri at lciferri@crain.com.
