The 2 millionth Fiat 500 On The Factory Assembly Line – Video
The iconic Fiat is celebrating two million units sold just days after marking its 60th anniversary. This is just the most recent success of the ‘great little car’ that has broken many records and reaped many awards in its long history. The impressive total of six million cars sold in sixty years of history is obtained by adding the over four million units sold of its 1957 forerunner: this alone is indicative of the impact of the Fiat 500 on society and explains just why the car has entered collective imagination worldwide, embracing four generations of motorists.
Reaching the resounding round figure of two million cars sold is particularly significant, considering that the result was achieved just 10 years after its launch and reflects the global success of the car. Sold in 100 countries worldwide, the 500 is Europe’s number one city car, leading the market in eight countries and ranking in the first three in six more, experiencing constant growth in sales since 2007 and with 80% of sales made outside the home market. 200,000 cars have been consigned to customers since 2007 in Germany alone.
So it is no coincidence that the 2 Millionth car sold was actually delivered to Germany. The Fiat 500 is the model with the fastest year-on-year (2017 vs 2016) market share growth in that country and is among the top 10 in the A segment. Furthermore, the 500 is the FCA brand car with the highest customer satisfaction rating in Germany, and the same applies to all 500 family products, which have higher customer satisfaction levels than the benchmark German competitors in their respective segments.
The purchaser of car number two million is called Melanie, and she is a nursery-school teacher from Munich; an authentic Millennial, constantly looking more to the future than to the past, just like Fiat 500. The chosen car was a Fiat 500S, the new sporty version characterised by bold looks and packed with appealing standard equipment. It is true to itself but also as connected as ever, with UconnectTM 7″ HD LIVE touchscreen infotainment system implementing the new state-of-the-art smartphone integration systems, Apple CarPlay and Android AutoTM.
It has distinctive looks, featuring front and rear bumpers in a sporty design, built-in fog lights, bespoke spoilers and side skirts in addition to exclusive “Satin Graphite” finish accents (such as the door and tailgate handles, the mirror caps and rims), tinted rear windows, chrome tailpipe, “black-grained” front air vents and an assertive honeycomb lower grille. The 16-inch rims are specific and are in matte black. It sports a Passione Red livery and fits a 0.9 TwinAir 105 HP engine under the bonnet.
The story of this particular car is told in the words of the Fiat 500 itself in an exciting video which can be watched by clicking on this link. The tale leads us from the body-in-white shop and paint shop of the plant where it was ‘born’ across the assembly floor along the journey to the local dealership in Germany where the young new owner is waiting for it, thrilled to be able to share her excitement of driving a special 500: her very own.
This attitude typical of the Millennials is well expressed by the ‘Forever Young’ claim which has accompanied the 60th anniversary celebrations during this extraordinary year marked by no fewer than two special series: the numbered limited edition presented at the Geneva Motor Show and the 500 Anniversario inspired by the years of the Dolce Vita.
One secret of the worldwide success of the 500 is its continual development with new interpretations and special editions like the 500C by Gucci, the 500 by Diesel and the recent 500 Riva, ‘The Smallest Yacht in the world’. Diverse creative worlds converge in a car which is loved, exciting and surprising, capable of being always contemporary and current as well as entering collective imagination and transcending the automotive world.