HEIR TO A COMMERCIAL SUCCESS
 

The true success of a car or commercial vehicle can only be measured in terms of time. The Doblò, a case in point, has gained 460,000 European customers since it first went on sale 5 years ago. More specifically, sales of the Doblò car version amounted to approximately 150,000 units in Europe. The model, launched at the end of 2000 into a fast-growing niche segment, won great popularity due to its outstanding product features and the best passenger room standards in its category. During subsequent years, the same winning features allowed the vehicle to maintain good market shares.

The performance of the New Doblò Cargo is even more significant. Since its launch, sales of the commercial vehicle amount to 310,000 worldwide (some 200,000 in Western Europe and 80,000 in Turkey). These figures make it the second biggest-selling model in the entire Fiat Light Commercial Vehicle range (after the Ducato). In 2004, overall sales of the Doblò Cargo amounted to 80,000 while it was the first choice of more than 42,000 customers (10,000 in Italy) during the first half of 2005. These significant results have contributed to the success recorded in recent years by the Fiat Light Commercial Vehicle brand: in 2004, the brand was confirmed as one of the biggest-selling Makes in Europe with sales of more than 219,000 units (total world sales were 308,000) and a market share of 10.7%. In detail, it consolidated its leadership in Italy with a market share greater than 40%. An outstanding result was also achieved in Poland, where the share was 25.7%. In France and Germany, moreover, Fiat Light Commercial Vehicles continues to be the primary importer of light commercial vehicles. The model also performed well in non-European countries. In Turkey, for example, 37,000 units were sold (15% share) while sales amounted to more than 44,000 units in Brazil (24.3% share). Compared to 2003, Fiat Light Commercial Vehicles sales rose by 11% throughout the world (+ 32,000 units) in 2004. And more: during the first half of 2005 in Europe, sales rose by 12% compared to the previous year. Fiat Light Commercial Vehicles now aims to consolidate its Italian leadership and to ensure steady European growth through two key strategies: new products and a more extensive sales network.
 

Firstly, recent years have seen major product renewal exercises: the new Ducato in 2002; the Fiat Strada and all the Vans in 2003; the Doblò Cargo MY 2004 last year, the New Scudo and new engines for the Ducato and Stilo Multi Wagon Van - and the New Doblò Cargo in 2005. The latter vehicle was the first precursor of our ongoing renewal of the entire Fiat Light Commercial Vehicles range. By the end of 2006, this process will make one of the most comprehensive and diverse product ranges on the market still more competitive; Fiat has also been able to interpret customers' true needs and reinvent itself to keep pace with their expectations.

The second strong point for Fiat Light Commercial Vehicles is its sales network. We are currently raising the professional level of dealers in terms of structures, human resources and aftersales services. We have selected the dealers within the current Fiat network who most effectively meet a set of standard requirements with a view to providing a more appropriate service for customers owning a light commercial vehicle, i.e. customers with specific mobility requirements. These standards are consistently checked and reviewed, year by year, with the aim of providing a more attentive follow-up for the needs of customers who want a sales and service network with skilled staff and appropriate structures. In other words, true business partners and dependable support for people whose vehicles are an everyday working tool. Since 2001, in Europe, the number of dealers specialising in light commercial vehicles has risen from 600 to 800 (in Italy they number 280) with the ultimate aim of achieving a level of 870 sales outlets and 6500 service outlets by the end of 2006.