Ducato drives up NZ Fiat sales in 2007
10/01/08
The new Fiat Ducato has driven up Fiat sales in 2007 with the new van range
proving popular in New Zealand with both motorhome owners and commercial vehicle
operators and the Italian vehicle maker is expecting a further growth in sales
lift in 2008 with the arrival of the new Fiat 500.
Fiat Ducato
"The Fiat Ducato has been one of our most successful launches,"
says Lawrie Malatios, General Manager for Fiat in Australia.
"Building on
the success of the previous model and given the big advantages of the new model,
our biggest job has been keeping up with demand for the new Ducato. For
motorhome owners, the new Ducato has enabled a wider range of vehicle designs
and features. This has enabled the Ducato to move into new market areas. With
the commercial vehicle sector, the Ducato has established itself as a durable,
reliable vehicle that minimises operating costs, all of which is not just
carried over to the new vehicle, but further enhanced and ensured a very quick
start-up for sales of the new Ducato business users."
Fiat sales in 2007 rose to 365 units, up from 348 in 2006, an increase of 5.0
per cent, with the Ducato being the top performer, lifting sales from 151 in
2006 to 202 in 2007.
The launch highlight for Fiat in 2008 will be the arrival of the new Fiat 500
in March.
"We already know that 2008 is going to be a top sales year for
Fiat in New Zealand," says Mr Malatios.
"Not only is Ducato growing
strongly and the newly launched Bravo is now in fully supply but even before it
has arrived, we have sold the first five months of supply of what must be
already the most sort after car in the New Zealand, the new Fiat 500, so this
year is already shaping up to be one of the most successful years ever for Fiat
in New Zealand."