The sales totals are in and 2014 was a record year for the Fiat Brand. Fiat sold a total of 46,121 cars in the United States in 2014, up 7 percent compared to 2013, making it the best year since the brand came back to the North American market in 2011. When you factor in Canada and Mexico, Fiat brand sales for North America total 58,777.* This beats the previous record of 55,600 units achieved in 2012.
Model breakdown in the US shows that there was a total of 33,708 Fiat 500 hatchback, Cabrios and Abarth sold in 2014. This is down 6 percent compared to 2013's figure of 35,834 cars.
Total sales of the Fiat 500L for 2014 reached 12,413, up from 7,402 from the previous year. Sales of the Fiat 500L were impacted by a recall that sidelined roomy MPV for nearly two months. The Fiat 500L is the best-selling vehicle in its segment in Europe but has not made as big a splash here in the North American market. Upcoming changes for 500L in 2015 - reshaped front seats, revised suspension calibrations, and a new, conventional automatic transmission - look to fix that.
As for the month of December, the Fiat brand recorded its best December sales ever. This was helped by the 500L breaking its all times monthly sales record. Fiat 500L December sales were up 4 percent compared to same month last year and 31 percent compared to November 2014.
With the introduction of the new Fiat 500X crossover set to hit Fiat showrooms in the first have of the year, 2015 is shaping up to be the best year yet!
2014 Highlights
In October, Fiat SPA stock certificates were traded in for newly issued Fiat Chrysler Automobile stock. Fiat was founded in 1899 as the Fabrica Italiana di Automobili Torino or F.I.A.T. and remained that until 1918, when it was was reorganized and incorporated as Fiat SpA.**
New Beginnings
Fiat total acquisition of Chrysler was finalized earlier in the year. The company that was known to the world as Fiat SpA since 1918 changed its name to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) to reflect the company's global partnership and to also honor the Chrysler legacy.
Recalls
Recalls were widespread thru out the auto industry in 2014 and Fiat was not immune. Supplier's manufacturing problems, first with the transmission gear shift module and then with one of the driver's side airbags, hit the 500L. The 500e also suffered a recall, this time to update the Power Inverter Module in approximately 19 cars.
New Models
Fiat introduced the popular Fiat 500 1957 Edition and expanded sales of what was the California only Fiat 500e all-electric model to the state of Oregon.
The 2014 model year was a short one for 500 hatchback, Cabrio, and Abarth models. Instead, Fiat unveiled the 2015 Fiat 500 early in April at the 2015 New York Auto Show. The new, updated 500 features several enhancements including a revised center console, Bluetooth streaming audio and a digital TFT display instrument cluster.
Also for the first time in 500 Turbo and 500 Abarth models, an automatic transmission is offered. The heavy duty automatic transmission has been extensively tuned for high-performance use by Abarth engineers and has been impressing enthusiasts with its sporty nature.
The much anticipated Alfa Romeo 4C also made its North American debut at the New York Auto Show and had Alfa enthusiasts salivating while waiting for the cars to show up later in the year at newly anointed Alfa Romeo dealers.
After a gestation period of more than three years, the Fiat 500X crossover finally debuted at the Paris Motor Show in October. It was quickly followed up by its North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. This new, exciting model has quickly become one of the most talked about CUVs in its segment. Deliveries of the Fiat 500X in Europe are said to begin during the first quarter of the year, with North American deliveries starting afterward. Sometime during mid to late Spring is the best ETA so far. We may get a price during the next few weeks.
Fiat 500 Sales in the United States - Jan - Dec 2014
Fiat 500 | Current Month | Last Year | Vol Change | Current YTD Total | Last Year YTD Total | Vol Change |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dec 500 500L | 2,302 1,482 3,784 | 2,324 1,421 3,745 | -1% 4% 1% | 33,708 12,413 46,121 | 35,834 7,402 43,236 | -6% 68% 7% |
Nov 500 500L | 1,984 1,127 3,111 | 2,138 937 3,075 | -7% 20% 1% | 31,406 10,931 42,337 | 33,510 5,981 39,491 | -6% 83% 7% |
Oct 500 500L | 2,806 919 3,725 | 2,378 1,296 3,674 | 18% -29% 1% | 29,422 9,804 39,226 | 31,372 5,044 36,416 | -6% 94% 8% |
Sept 500 500L | 2,737 623 3,360 | 2,126 1,031 3,157 | 29% -40% 6% | 26,616 8,885 35,5011 | 28,994 3,748 32,742 | -8% 137% 8% |
Aug 500 500L | 3,329 33 3,362 | 2,976 1,214 4,190 | 12% -97% -20% | 23,879 8,262 32,141 | 26,868 2,717 29,585 | -11% 204% 9% |
July 500 500L | 2,371 1,436 3,807 | 2,821 962 3,783 | -16% 49% 1% | 20,550 8,229 28,779 | 23,892 1,503 25,395 | -14% 448% 13% |
June 500 500L | 3,328 1,150 4,478 | 3,509 541 4,050 | -5% 113% 11% | 18,179 6,793 24,972 | 21,071 512 21,612 | -14% 1,156% 16% |
May 500 500L | 3,337 1,434 4,771 | 4,051 0 4,051 | -18% new 18% | 14,851 5,643 20,494 | 17,562 0 17,562 | -15% new 17% |
April 500 500L | 3,041 1,257 4,298 | 3,899 0 3,899 | -22% new 10% | 11,514 4,209 15,723 | 13,511 0 13,511 | -15% new 16% |
March 500 500L | 3,316 1,422 4,738 | 3,807 0 3,807 | -13% new 24% | 8,473 2,952 11,425 | 9,612 0 9,612 | -12% new 19% |
Feb 500 500L | 2,664 801 3,465 | 3,302 0 3,302 | -19% new 5% | 5,157 1,530 6,687 | 5,805 0 5,805 | -11% new 15% |
Jan 500 500L | 2,493 729 3,222 | 2,503 0 2,503 | 0% new 29% | 2,493 729 3,222 | 2,503 0 2,503 | 0% new 29% |
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* Updated 1/6/15: 46,121 cars for United States, 4,627 for Mexico and 8,029 for Canada = 58,777 (revised with updated Mexican and Canadian figures)
** New Fiat Guide, Jan P Norbye, 1969
*Sales sources: FCA, Automotive News
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