Dacia may face a new budget rival from Fiat

[St.Who]

As long as it doesn't look like a Fiat 500. It bothers me when cars built on the same platform look extremely similar. I take it that Fiat does not have a connection to a budget brand right now. You would kinda think that by now they would have made some more affordable cars. Another Fiat can do to get the ball rolling is rebadge one or two of their lower end models. This would also ensure that there is a clear division between Fiat and its budget brand in terms of pricing.

[dorian]

Originally Posted by St.Who

As long as it doesn't look like a Fiat 500. It bothers me when cars built on the same platform look extremely similar. I take it that Fiat does not have a connection to a budget brand right now. You would kinda think that by now they would have made some more affordable cars. Another Fiat can do to get the ball rolling is rebadge one or two of their lower end models. This would also ensure that there is a clear division between Fiat and its budget brand in terms of pricing.

well FIAT is a relatively budget brand, until now there was never really a need to go any cheaper, but they are struggling in Europe. The auto industry there just refuses to turn over, sales are down, demand is down, employment is down. I wish them the best of luck....

[reeeno]

To think of it. It'll probably be a Fiat 500L platform.

[dusted]

Originally Posted by dorian

well FIAT is a relatively budget brand, until now there was never really a need to go any cheaper, but they are struggling in Europe. The auto industry there just refuses to turn over, sales are down, demand is down, employment is down. I wish them the best of luck....

It's going to get worse, they'll eventually be like the u.s. back when it was going into recession in 2008. Not sure how it will change their auto industry as they already have a ton of fuel efficient vehicles.

[dorian]

Originally Posted by dusted

It's going to get worse, they'll eventually be like the u.s. back when it was going into recession in 2008. Not sure how it will change their auto industry as they already have a ton of fuel efficient vehicles.

the problem is not the vehicles, once people realize that the entire situation morphs into something much more substantial. Emplyment in Europe is Horrid right now, especially under 35, something like 50% unemployment...

People are just as unemployed in US as they are in Europe but the key difference is European banks are shriveling up under the weight of too much credit and they have tightened up lending considerably. So couple lack of jobs with lack of lending and you get an industry that reverts to where it should be instead of this credit expanded not so free lunch we have going on in NA...

Its going to be ugly when the music stops...

[Haggan]

Fiat always seem like a budget car to me anyway - at least they are full of cheaply made materials.

[james]

Fiat 500B (Budget )