Articolo sulla nuova Fiat 16...

[Blu Pitti]

Thursday, December 1st, 2005

Fiat Auto is still very much on borrowed time after its GM
windfall, but the PSA-like strategy of selective
collaborations with other companies seems to be advancing
now. After the recently announced tie-up with Ford on
small cars, there?s fruit this week from Fiat?s
collaboration with Suzuki in Hungary in the shape of a
small SUV that both companies will market in Europe next
year.

The Fiat model is called Sedici and Suzuki?s is called
the SX4.

It looks as if Suzuki will be grabbing the lion?s share
of the vehicle?s output with Fiat conscious of not wanting
to cannibalise its existing small 4x4 product, the Panda
4x4. The Sedici can be positioned a little above that
where manufacturers are increasingly looking to offer
niche ?soft-roader? 4x4 versions of cars such as the VW
Golf and Ford Focus. Yes, those supermarket car parks can
be treacherous at times.

The nice thing, though, about Fiat working with Suzuki on
a jointly developed vehicle marketed by both is that
geographical market overlap for the two brands is
relatively small. Joint development and production keeps
cost down, so an already healthy margin is protected by
the vehicle being niche volume in character and not
subject to head-to-head competition from its sibling.

According to Italian auto trade association ANFIA?s data,
Suzuki has sold 23,600 new passenger cars in Italy in the
first ten months of this year (just over 1% market share).
The Fiat brand sold 391,000 units in the same period (just
over 20% market share). Fiat will be taking some 20,000 of
the Hungarian plant?s 60,000 units annual output and a
hefty 12,000-unit chunk of Fiat?s allocation will be
destined for Italy. No, Fiat?s Italian dealers won?t have
to worry too much about Suzuki, which I suspect will be
mainly focused on meeting demand in local central European
markets.

The Panda 4x4, by the way, is a super little product for
the outlay and a lot of fun off-road.

ITALY/UK [updated 13:25GMT]: First fruits of Fiat-Suzuki
small SUV venture appear
http://www.just-auto.com/nd.asp?art=50182

Fiat feeling upbeat in Bologna (and if Fiat can?t strut
there, where can it?):

BOLOGNA SHOW: Fiat managers have good news to tell
http://www.just-auto.com/nd.asp?art=50191



Until next time...

Dave Leggett
Managing Editor

www.just-auto.com