Alexandre
The year 2024 marks the first full year of registrations for thehe new Fiat 600, successor presented as the modern evolution of the Fiat 500X. Introduced in 2023, and on the market since September 2023, the Fiat 600 was to breathe new life into the compact SUV segment for Fiatbut the figures reveal a contrasting dynamic, to say the leastThis is particularly true of its predecessor, the 500X. Here's a look back at the sales performance of these two models, and an analysis of the reasons behind their mixed results.
Timid figures for 2024
Registrations of the Fiat 600 in 2024 show a timid start, particularly in Fiat's two main markets: France and Italy. Here are the key figures:
| Model | France 2024 | Italy 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Fiat 600 | 8 637 | 6 858 |
Whereas the 500X was capable of achieving much higher volumes in its early days, the results of the Fiat 600 seem both modest and ambitious. and hardly encouraging for a model that is supposed to relaunch the brand in this segment.
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France 500X | 13059 | 15057 | 14774 | 6339 | 5946 | ||
| Italy 500X | 45789 | 49931 | 42554 | 31831 | 31982 | 22244 | 27902 |
A pricing strategy that doesn't work for Fiat
Pricing seems to play a crucial role in a model's success for the Fiat brand. This brand, which has long promoted the slogan "there's less good, but it's more expensive", has become far too greedy. Let's compare the price evolution between the Fiat 500X and the Fiat 600 from 2017 to 2024:
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat 500X FR Price | 17 990€ | 18 990€ | 18 990€ | 19 290€ | 21 990€ | 25 290€ | 31 000€ | |
| Fiat 500X IT price | 18 800€ | 19 000€ | 19 750€ | 21 000€ | 22 100€ | 22 600€ | 24 200€ | 27 950€ |
| Fiat 600 FR price | 24 900€ | |||||||
| Fiat 600 IT price | 25 200€ |
In seven years, the price of the Fiat 500X has risen significantly, from €17,990 to over €31,000 by the end of his career in France. In both France and Italy, the introductory price of the 500X has risen from €5,000 to €7,000 in just a few years. With the Fiat 600, Fiat has chosen to position its new model at a high price right from its launch: €24,900 in France and €25,200 in Italy. This strategy may explain, in part, why sales are struggling to reach the level of its predecessor. We can see that, in order to achieve volume, the price of the Fiat 600 Hybrid would have to be just under €20,000, as an introductory price..
It's true that the two models are technologically very different: Fiat platform for the 500X, CMP platform for the 600. Fiat 1.0L 120 hp engine for one, Puretech 1.2L 100 hp engine for the other. The 600 appears to be well positioned in terms of price in the B-SUV segment against the Peugeot 2008 and Renault Captur.but a slightly more attractive price than its competitors, in the €22,000 range, could help its launch.
| Italy | France | ||||
| Model | Segment | Price | Model | Segment | Price |
| Fiat Panda | A | 15 950€ | Renault Clio | B | 19 300€ |
| Dacia Sandero | B | 13 850€ | Peugeot 208 | B | 19 300€ |
| Jeep Avenger | B-SUV | 24 750€ | Dacia Sandero | B | 12 500€ |
| Citroen C3 | B-SUV | 15 240€ | Peugeot 2008 | B-SUV | 24 000€ |
| Toyota Yaris Cross | B-SUV | 24 950€ | Renault Captur | B-SUV | 25 700€ |
| Renault Clio | B | 18 150€ | Citroen C3 | B-SUV | 15 000€ |
| Peugeot 208 | B | 17 170€ | Peugeot 308 | C | 29 000€ |
| Toyota Yaris | B | 19 950€ | Toyota Yaris | B | 21 000€ |
| Lancia Ypsilon | B | 17 650€ | Toyota Yaris Cross | B-SUV | 26 000€ |
| Renault Captur | B-SUV | 22 800€ | Tesla Model Y | D-SUV | 45 000€ |
For the Fiat 600, Fiat may have to review its pricing strategy and step up its communication efforts to better position its new model and make it a best-seller.
Only one of the 3 main reasons is mentioned, which is a shame :/.
If it's the Puretech, it doesn't seem to prevent Avengers and C3s from being sold in Italy. If it's the place of manufacture, the old 500 was Polish and the 500L was Serbian. These are also reasons, but price seems to be the primary one, in my opinion.
They may sell once for the Avenger and C3 that I saw in Italy about a month ago, but not twice if reliability isn't mastered. Personally, a PureTech or Blue-HDI engine is a "no-go" whatever the "plumage".
The PureTech of course, but it seems to me that the Avenger isn't selling much, and the only ones I've seen have been electric, and also the design, which has become rather bland, less rounded, less balanced.
But yes, price first, of course.
The Avenger has exceeded 100,000 sales in 2024 since its launch.
And yet it's a vehicle built on a platform with PSA-sourced internal combustion and electric engines.
Jeep does not seem to be experiencing any particular difficulties. And Jeep's profitability in Europe has improved significantly since the launch of the Avenger...
So Puretech, Psa/eMotors and PSA platforms are not handicaps, but clearly assets...
Fiat's problem is its image as a manufacturer of small, inexpensive vehicles, which prevents it from selling higher-end models.
In Europe, Fiat's future lies in remaining a manufacturer of small, affordable entry-level vehicles. Any model that deviates from this will be doomed to failure.
Could you enlighten us on the two other reasons?
Bought in Loa just one year ago, it is more often at the garage than at home!
The last breakdown was on December 4...still not repaired...breakdowns that are all the more painful because they are dangerous...the vehicle comes to a standstill in the middle of traffic with no way of moving it...
Stellantis won't listen. I'd like to cancel the contract because there's an obvious hidden defect, but no one will consider my request...
It's too expensive, although it's very nice, but above all it's the Puretech engine, not the Firefly combustion engine. Too bad
Ganz einfach, wer kein Manuelles Schaltgetriebe anbietet braucht sich in der breiten Masse nicht wundern, dass man Abstand nimmt vom Kauf ebensolcher.
The problem is that it looks too much like the 500x, not really charming. I own a 500x sport the interior has more personality and also the engine I have a firefly 150hp DCT impeccable reliability I have 92000 km no problem.
I'd never swap a firefly for a purtech
And I also think that Italian car owners don't want to drive with a French engine. And if you drive an Italian car, it's to have an Italian engine. That's the problem with the Stellantis group.
100% I agree with that. Italian engines in Italian cars is the basis, instead of this regression with an underpowered PureTech that should scare buyers away.
No modern car can claim to be 100% Italian or German or French or American or Japanese.
It's been a long time since carmakers internationalized their production, their suppliers, their components, their engineering/research and development departments, etc...
Absolutely well said . No self respecting Italian vehicle fan wants a crappy citroen with a new dress .I'll stick with my 500x 2l diesel auto . Built in Italy .
The 600 is just so underwhelming, it's also quite ugly and ungainly. I had a look at one in the showroom and it seemed quite small inside. The Peugeot platform puts me off further but I guess most customers won't go into it that deeply. The overall answer is it doesn't sell because it is disappointing, it's that simple.
Secondo me il mercato vuole diesel e gpl per risparmiare!!! Non so può imporre l elettrico alla clientela bisogna dare la scelta!
Die sollen nicht überall diese schlechten Puretech Motoren verbauen. Besser die Fiat Firefly Maschinen. Aber sowie es zurzeit aussieht lassen sie diese Werke sterben.
As always with Stellantis, the price positioning is totally inadequate and there are few versions of the model available.
The kind of out-of-touch strategy that Olivier François is so good at!
When it comes to new model launches going wrong, Stellantis takes the cake.
There's probably a price issue.
But what buyer wants to switch from the 120hp Firefly to the 100hp PureTech?
There were even 150hp Fiat 500Xs, and now the Fiat 600 is underpowered.
Facciamo tutti finta di non capire le motivazioni reali, la 500x era venduta con 4 motori di cui 3 diesel, era piú bella e costava qualcosa meno, da ultimo era prodotta in Italia, non vi basta?
Esatto, era più bella, costava meno ed era prodotta in Italia.... speriamo che imparino
Concordo pienamente. Hanno avuto la pessima idea di mettere quel cess@ di motore francese, mentre avevano già disponibile il Firefly Italiano, un eccellenza di motore. Per la cronaca, anche io 500x sport 1,3 Firefly. Ottimo sotto tutti i punti di vista , un vero missile terra aria. Solo il consumo un po' alto
If you don't have the right engines (diesel and internal combustion) at the right price, you've got the answer!
Ich würde den mässigen Erfolg der Optik zuschreiben. Seien wir ehrlich - es ist kein schönes Auto. Ich denke, die Proportionen stimmen nicht. Vorn ein grosser, unsportlicher Überhang. Viel zu grosse Scheinwerfer. Eigenartige Designs der Felgen. Der vordere Stossfänger mit billig ausgestanztem Lüftungsgitter. Innen viel Plastik inklusive "Eco" - (Plastik) - Leder. Ich bin wirklich Fan der Marke. Aber schönes, italienischen Design finde ich in diesem Auto nicht. Sorry.
Der alte 500X hatte ein schöneres Design. Ein stimmiges Design.
Volete vendere di più la fiat 600 e non lamentarvi che mancano le vendite mi spiace dirlo signori ma vi fate prendere dalle mode e se mettete i motori francesi la gente non e fessa e poi il motore tagliaerba volete vendere la 600 basta montarci quel mitico motore m jet 1600 131cv magari facendo scegliere il cambio anche automatico lo avete messo sul tonale che cavolo ci vuole a metterlo lì. Volete venderle o no?
Possiamo dire che la linea é pessima, soprattutto nel frontale? Dovrebbe essere una questione di gusti, per carità, ma secondo me l'estetica di una vettura rimane il principale fattore di (non) acquisto.
Linea ormai superata, abitacolo poco capiente, si sta' più comodo in una Up, il bagagliaio è piccolo per una famiglia, poi vogliamo parlare del motore 3 cilindri francese???? pessimo, consumi alti e inaffidabile, piuttosto sarebbe meglio con il vecchio 1.3 diesel o il 1.5 plug-in, poi c'è da dire che il prezzo è veramente esagerato x un bidone del genere.
Diversi motivi la macchina assomiglia troppo alla 500x ha il motore pure tech e costa troppo! Per venderla bene dovrebbe costare non più di 20.000 €! E' fatta in Polonia mentre la 500x era fatta in Italia! Se non fanno così in Italia ne venderanno pochissime ormai gli italiani hanno capito che Stellantis ci prende in giro che le vendano in Polonia
Per me non vende la 600 perché é uguale alla 500x, cambiano solo i fari e dentro, poi fuori é identica.
Il gruppo stellantis dovrebbe fare una nuova Giulietta, perché di quella ne hanno vendute molte.
I do think 3 reasons are to be blamed for the failure of Fiat 600: 1. It is too small to be a family car 2. For its size, it is too expensive 3. ..and the infamous and failing PureTech 1.2 engine
Solo due parole: BRUTTA e CARA!
Nicht nur ein Preis frage!
Fiat hat seit 10 Jahren nichts mehr auf dem Schirm ausser 500. Punto ? keine. Panda uralt ...
Rest ist blabla. Fiat will einfach niemand mehr weil es schon zu lange nichts mehr gibt !!!
Fiat is an Italian car, so it has an Italian engine, otherwise it's not a real Fiat!
eine Karikatur vom 500er!