The biggest seller for Fiat in Uruguay last year was the Uno. With 538 units sold, the long-running B-segment model is available on the local market with a choice of 1.2 petrol and 1.7 diesel engines.

During 2007 Uruguay saw 20,598 new vehicles hitting the roads, the figure made up of automobiles, light commercial vehicles, buses and trucks. A small but diversified mix, nevertheless it is a market where Fiat has a long tradition, and sells most models in the Latin American range.

Uruguay nestles between Brazil and Argentina, comprising of 176,215 sq km, and has a population of just under three and a half million, almost half of which live in the capital city Montevideo. The Uruguayan new vehicle market, in spite of being very small in comparison with the neighbouring Brazilian one, is highly diversified with practically all the well-known automotive brands from around the world selling their models in the country.

From the total sales figure of 20,598 units in 2007, 18,892 comprised of automobiles and light commercial vehicles, and the sales amassed by Fiat in that particular segment was 2,082 vehicles, which corresponds to 11 percent of total sales, positioning the Italian brand in second place in the overall rankings behind the market leader Chevrolet that has a 25 percent share.

Fiat exports vehicles from Brazil to Uruguay in CKD form and the kits are then assembled on behalf of the local importer company Sevel Uruguay S.A. (also the importer for Iveco) which has been responsible since 1984 for Fiat's products in the country, but starting from 1995 the vehicles are passed to be exported ready. The models that are currently commercialised by Fiat in Uruguay comprise of the Palio, Palio Weekend, Palio Adventure, Idea, Idea Adventure, Stilo, Siena, Uno, Strada, Uno Van, Fiorino, Ducato, and the newest addition to this comprehensive range, the Punto.

The biggest seller for Fiat in Uruguay last year was the Uno. With 538 units sold, the long-running B-segment model is available on the local market with a choice of 1.2 petrol and 1.7 diesel engines. Second in the rankings was the Palio hatchback with 426 units, also available with two engines, but in this case both are petrol: 1.4 and 1.8. The latest model release by Fiat in Uruguay is the new Brazilian-built Punto, now available in four versions: 1.4, 1.4 ELX 1.8 HLX and 1.8 Sporting.

by Claudio Perlini