“When I was given Fiat [to run], I was very happy,” said Olivier François, Fiat’s global boss. “In the old world, it was where all the investments used to go. Finally, I thought, I can express my ideas for the Fiat brand. But actually, no, I couldn’t. The investment was needed on other brands.”
That briefly sums up the history of Fiat over the past decade, a decade in which François has stayed at the helm despite all the turbulence, which includes the rise and sad demise of Sergio Marchionne and, more recently, the huge merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and the PSA Group to form Stellantis.
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I am amazed that Fiat is the biggest selling brand in the Stellantis Group, when we only see the 500 in the UK. I have owned an original Panda and a 100HP and really liked them both, especially the stripped-out functionality of the original. I await the new Panda with excitement.
To be fair to Fiat the 500 is like Mini, a range of different vehicles. Then there's the Panda and Tipo, but all need updating and the Punto replacing. I can't imagine Ford killing off the Fiesta because the Puma's quite popular! Otherwise they will end up with Italian Rover, endlessly producing the same cars for far too long with stop gap updates.
Stellantis really need to concentrate on the Fiat brand now. For far too long its been starved of investment, and has been on the wrong end of truly awful business decisions - not replacing the best selling Punto for one! I'm a huge Fiat fan, c'mon Stellantis, give me something I want to buy - and not just a 500!!