The new Fiat Ducato has driven up Fiat sales in New Zealand during 2007 with the new van range proving very popular with both motorhome owners and commercial vehicle operators.

The new Fiat Ducato has driven up Fiat sales in 2007 with the new van range proving popular in New Zealand with both motorhome owners and commercial vehicle operators and the Italian vehicle maker is expecting a further growth in sales lift in 2008 with the arrival of the new Fiat 500.

“The Fiat Ducato has been one of our most successful launches,” says Lawrie Malatios, General Manager for Fiat in Australia. “Building on the success of the previous model and given the big advantages of the new model, our biggest job has been keeping up with demand for the new Ducato. For motorhome owners, the new Ducato has enabled a wider range of vehicle designs and features. This has enabled the Ducato to move into new market areas. With the commercial vehicle sector, the Ducato has established itself as a durable, reliable vehicle that minimises operating costs, all of which is not just carried over to the new vehicle, but further enhanced and ensured a very quick start-up for sales of the new Ducato business users.”

Fiat sales in 2007 rose to 365 units, up from 348 in 2006, an increase of 5.0 per cent, with the Ducato being the top performer, lifting sales from 151 in 2006 to 202 in 2007.

The launch highlight for Fiat in 2008 will be the arrival of the new Fiat 500 in March. “We already know that 2008 is going to be a top sales year for Fiat in New Zealand,” says Mr Malatios. “Not only is Ducato growing strongly and the newly launched Bravo is now in fully supply but even before it has arrived, we have sold the first five months of supply of what must be already the most sort after car in the New Zealand, the new Fiat 500, so this year is already shaping up to be one of the most successful years ever for Fiat in New Zealand.”