Panda Boosts Fiat's Future
Published: 20th January 2004
But it’s an image the car company does not deserve, he says, and aims to prove it with the launch of the new Panda this week and the all-new Fiat IDEA in a month’s time.
"We now have a very strong dealer network which I believe gives good service and is the best when it comes to supplying replacement parts. Anyone who goes into a Fiat dealership now will discover it is unrecognisable from just a short time ago."
Dealers have been concerned, said Toso, with the company’s well-publicised difficulties back home in Italy. "But we have stuck together. We have lost only four dealers in the past 12 months and we hope to add another 20 in 2004 which will take the network up to 200."
He added: "We can now offer new, better quality cars. We have already introduced the new Punto, now we have the Panda and the IDEA arrives soon. We also have new diesel and petrol engines."
These vehicles Toso hopes, will push Fiat sales in the UK up to 80,000 this year, up from 75,000 in 2003. Panda will account for 10,000 sales.
Toso said: "We have been struggling with our image for the past couple of years and now we must concentrate our efforts on getting people into our dealers so we can show them the quality of our cars.
"In Italy, Fiat Auto has been struggling with its industrial plan but we have turned a corner. We are back although we have never really been away."
* Big success story for Fiat UK in 2003 was commercial vehicles
where sales were up 25 percent to 10,673 vehicles. Toso said:
"I am particularly pleased with this because people who buy
these vehicles are professionals who need them for their business.
They have shown they are happy with the quality and reliability
of our CVs."
Fiat Panda
Our Fiat Panda Guide lists the full specification of the current UK Panda range, including car prices, fuel consumption, dimensions and other vital data.
Price Range: £7,005 - £10,260
Body Style:
Fuel:
/ 
Models in the range: 8
Our Car Buyer’s Guide covers all of the UK’s major new cars and includes CO2 ratings and car insurance groups. Data updated on the 6th July 2008
