Fiat 500 Sales Are Flat – Layoffs At Chrysler Follow

Car Loves ^ | November 29, 2011 | scottbourne

[jjotto]

Chrysler has reportedly stopped production of the 1.4-liter engine that powers the Fiat 500 until demand catches supply. As a result, it has had to lay offsome employees that build engines.

United Auto Workers’ local representative says Chrysler has let go nearly 100 employees. Fiat has only sold 16,000 500s in the US.

This is sad news to those of us at CarLoves.com since we are unashamedly fans of the little Italian car. But frankly, given the poor performance of Chrysler’s Fiat Studio roll out, we’re not surprised. Only recently could you even buy a Fiat 500 in Las Vegas – a city of 1.8 million people.

For whatever reason, Chrysler has taken way too long to get the dealerships open. The one they did open in Vegas is barely visible on the corner in an old note-lot location hardly befitting the fine trappings of Italian design. In other parts of the country Chrysler opened up some up-scale, beautiful stores. But now it appears they are rushing to sell the car just about anywhere they can.

It’s time to focus on getting the cars into the hands of reliable dealers and less on ex-Fly Girls as spokes models – Sorry J Lo – no dis-respect intended.

[Dr. Sivana]

People would love to have a new Dart. Its almost impossible to **** up, but somehow they will manage to screw it up.

They already have. Darts got decent gas mileage, and the slant-six base engine was notoriously reliable. The pre-cat. converter Darts had a LOT of torque, the kind you can't get outof ANY engine measured in cc.

I don't know if safety regs eliminated them, but the best way to fit six people in a car is with straight bench seats in front and back. No one would dare try to bring those back, unfortunately. The Dodge Dart was the great, versatile, simple everyman car. The new one is an impending disaster.

[RegulatorCountry]

I’ve only seen a few on the road and in person. The proportions aren’t right, they’re bulbous like a “new” Beetle without the personality, and seem to lack something, that being imho any hint of the Italian flair that Fiat/Chrysler marketing seems to want to attribute to the 500.

The very large, retro canvas sunroof is the only striking thing about the car. The alloy wheels aren’t right, looking rather like the plastic turbine-look wheelcovers popularized by Chrysler in the 80’s. Fiat had a disastrous reputation in the states when they pulled out, and they have a lot to overcome attempting to reintroduce themselves.

A boutique vehicle with limited market like this might seem to be the best means of testing the waters, finding their audience and building from there. But, the 500 just doesn’t feel right from what little I’ve seen of it. Too much Dr. Seuss and too little of the positive qualities of Italian automobiles. Should’ve started out with any one of the very striking Alfa Romeo models available outside the United States, as far as I’m concerned. Now, they’re headed that way but are badge engineering an Alfa in to a Dodge Dart. Jarring. Cognitive dissonance, for both fans of Alfa and fans of the Dodge Dart.

[mtrott]

To avoid these type layoffs:

Drill now, drill here, scale back EPA fuel economy standards, build and sell SUVs and pickups.

[Ben Hecks]

I know a Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep dealer - he said the cost of integrating Fiat into a dealership were too high. It would take him years to recover the investment. Those dealerships that made the leap could be having regrets.

[Las Vegas Dave]

Those dealerships that made the leap could be having regrets.

Are those remaining dealers who contributed to the DNC also have regrets?

[mylife]

I would buy one today.

They should bring back the Barracuda too.

I drive a Dodge Ram pick up truck.

****a FIAT

[Prokopton]

This is the only production Dart I’d be interested in.

http://www.cars-on-line.com/archive-28-68hemidart.html

[mylife]

The worst part of the Fiat merger is that Fiat intends to use “smart” technology to monitor your driving.

They intend to monitor your driving and will pass that data to the Feds who will tax you if you don’t drive the way they like,

They will monitor how you put the foot to the gas and to the brake, they will monitor if you take the scenic back road or the expressway
Then the intend to tax you based on your driving...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D95p9BIjr90

FUBO!

[Chode]

or, identical to my best friends 340...

[hattend]

The one they did open in Vegas is barely visible on the corner in an old note-lot location hardly befitting the fine trappings of Italian design.

It's a Fiat not a Lamborghini.

[ExCTCitizen]

Fiat 500 = updated Yugo...

[truth_seeker]

I saw a dealer with a lot full of Fiat 500s in downtown Salt Lake City, a few months ago.

You can get bigger cars with the same mileage for same or less money.

Mini
Fiesta
Focus
Fit
Civic
Corolla
Yaris

to name a few.

I owned a couple of Fiats in the 60s and 70s, so I am done with that.
Meterior, paint, seats didn’t last nearly long enough.
Chrysler takes the prize for crappy interiors, and the 500 fits right in.

[truth_seeker]

Meterior = Interior

[truth_seeker]

Meterior = Interior

[Oztrich Boy]

People would love to have a new Dart.

There are many new dart fans.

[mylife]

Super Bee!

[Neidermeyer]

The last "New Dart" was the "Volare" which is , I believe , Indian for "rusts to nothing"...