If you thought North American's like the Fiat 500, wait till you hear what Europeans think of the rebadged Dodge Journey, aka the Fiat Freemont.
Originally, Fiat planned to sell 13,000 units in Europe this year. Chrysler's production plant in Taluca, Mexico anticipated just such a number and so was on course to deliver just that. However, since its June introduction in Italy, there have been 15,700 orders for the Freemont already collected. To meet the demanding needs of European customers, the Taluca plant has increased production by more than a third.
Fiat said that Italian customers are responsible for 80% of the Freemont sales to date, and that 80% of those customers are first-time Fiat buyers.
Why the sudden attraction? Well, the Freemont is 5,600 Euros cheaper than the Fiat Ulysse that it's replacing, and Fiat already had a much stronger hold on the European market than Chrysler ever did. So, despite the Freemont's Dodge-like lines and look, it truly is a Fiat (with upgraded front and rear styling, as well as Fiat's MultiJet2 diesel engine that is not offered by Dodge).
Source: Automotive News
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| Photo: Fiat |
Originally, Fiat planned to sell 13,000 units in Europe this year. Chrysler's production plant in Taluca, Mexico anticipated just such a number and so was on course to deliver just that. However, since its June introduction in Italy, there have been 15,700 orders for the Freemont already collected. To meet the demanding needs of European customers, the Taluca plant has increased production by more than a third.
Fiat said that Italian customers are responsible for 80% of the Freemont sales to date, and that 80% of those customers are first-time Fiat buyers.
Why the sudden attraction? Well, the Freemont is 5,600 Euros cheaper than the Fiat Ulysse that it's replacing, and Fiat already had a much stronger hold on the European market than Chrysler ever did. So, despite the Freemont's Dodge-like lines and look, it truly is a Fiat (with upgraded front and rear styling, as well as Fiat's MultiJet2 diesel engine that is not offered by Dodge).
Source: Automotive News