Launched in 2003 and since marketed in 76 countries around the world - from Italy to Russia and from Mexico to Japan - the second series Panda is not just a range-entry 'city' car, but a real 'platform' on which Fiat Group Automobiles has created a whole family of offspring. The Fiat 500 and new Lancia Ypsilon, both of which are built by Fiat Auto Poland at Tychy alongside the Panda, are spun off the Panda's architecture, which is dubbed 'Mini', as its Ford's current Ka, which also comes from this factory.

Although the Panda, which won the most important of all new car awards - Car of the Year 2004 - is due to be replaced in the Fiat showrooms later this year with its successor set to be unveiled in the autumn and built, instead, at Alfa Romeo's factory at Pomigliano d'Arco near Naples, the current Panda model is still selling very impressively despite the lack of a mid-life facelift. For the first half of the year the Panda is the best selling car in A-segment in Italy with a market share of 35.3 percent, while across Europe (counting the 27 EU member nations plus the EFTA signatories) its has notched up a 16.6 percent market share for the first five months of the year.

The Panda range includes petrol and diesel engines that are all Euro 5 compliant, as well as CNG and LPG options, and front or four wheel drive transmissions, the latter boosted by an electronic locking differential and combined ESP (Electronic Stability Program). In addition, the customer can choose between a diverse range of different specification versions (Actual, Active, MyLife, Dynamic, Mamy, Emotion, Climbing and Cross) and fifteen body colors.

Operational since October 1992, the Fiat Auto Poland plant in Tychy has so far produced 6.2 million cars and is one of the world's most modern automotive industry facilities as evidenced by the awarding of the certificate of 'Silver Level' in the World Class Manufacturing programme. Tychy has just started building the fourth-generation Lancia Ypsilon which has been transferred from Termini Imerese in Sicily; for the first time in 5-door format the 'Y' is also underpinned by the 'Mini' architecture. Last year the Panda celebrated 6 million versions (over two generations) in the 30th anniversary of its birth.