Fiat 500 Sells Better Outside Italy than Inside

Although we admit this might be less shocking for some of you, this is the first time in Fiat's 110-year history when a car designed in Italy sells better in overseas markets than in the domestic one. Lorenzo Sistino of Fiat said the 500 is more attractive to buyers outside Italy than to those living in the country, as 54 percent of the models rolled off the assembly lines where delivered in various countries across Europe.

And Fiat 500's sales in non-Italian markets could go even higher as the Italian manufacturer plans to debut it in the United States as part of the alliance with Chrysler. Specific details on the date the 500 will arrive in the US are still unavailable but several sources indicated that it could go on sale in the next 18 months.

"The Fiat 500 - we see that, like the Mini, as a sort of boutique car that we think we can sell in good numbers on the East and West coasts in the same way that Mini has been successful in the U.S.," Richard Gadeselli, vice president of Fiat communications in Italy, was quoted as saying in early June.

Fiat 500 is going to be the only model to be sold in the United States under the Fiat badge, as all the other car sourced from the Italian manufacturer will be rebadged as Chryslers.

"There is a misconception out there that Chrysler is going to build the Fiat Bravo, just stick a different badge on it. They will be Chrysler products," Gadeselli said. "They will be specific to Chrysler. The vehicle architectures will be based on our stuff, and there will be some powertrains. The vehicles will be U.S. vehicles, designed for U.S. customers by a U.S. company."