Cars
Let's assume for a moment that the new Fiat 500L will undercut the Mini Countryman in price, just as the 500 undercuts the Cooper. With that assumption in mind, we'll assume that the stylistically-challenged Fiat 500L might sell at least as often as the Countryman.
The 500L is only available with front-wheel-drive. Even the Mini is only available with all-wheel-drive at the top of lineup. Neither car is a faithful design follower of the iconic original; the Fiat less so. Neither car is particularly quick. Both cars feature highly stylized interiors, neither of which is roomy like a proper SUV. By Mini standards, the Countryman isn't pretty. By car standards, the Fiat is ill-proportioned.
Regardless of their stark differences and apparent similarities, it's safe to project approximately 20,000 annual U.S. sales for the 500L, based on the Mini Countryman's total. Fiat USA will likely sell around 43,000 500s in 2012.
If the 500L can find 20,000 buyers in 2013 while selling another 43,000 500 hatchbacks, where does this position the Fiat brand?
Strictly judged by volume, Fiat would only barely be trailing Mini. Fiat would be selling nearly as many cars as Volvo and would be selling twice as many vehicles as Porsche.
Even if the 500L becomes a 20,000-units type of vehicle, Fiat won't sell 20,000 in what will be an abbreviated 2013 launch year. Yet we can still expect to see Fiat's 2013 year-end volume climbing at least 40% even if the 500 posts no year-over-year sales increase.
Check out historic monthly and yearly sales figures for the regular Fiat 500, Mini Cooper range, Mini Countryman, and any other vehicle or brand by making your selection at GCBC's Sales Stats home. U.S. brand rankings, where Fiat ranked 29th in October and Mini ranked 24th, can be accessed here.
- Mini Usa Car Sales Charts - September 2013 Ytd
BMW USA reported an 8% improvement in Mini sales in September 2013 on strong sales of the company's three least practical models, including two of its topless cars. Convertible sales jumped 59%, or 180 units. Roadster sales jumped 87%, or...
- Mini Usa Car Sales Charts - June 2013 Ytd
Click Either Chart For Larger View19.5% of BMW USA's June sales volume originated from the Mini brand in 2013, down from 21.6% in June 2012. Mini sales were up 9.6% thanks to near-brand-wide increases and the addition of the Paceman, but the...
- Mini Usa Car Sales Charts - May 2013
Sales at BMW USA's Mini branch crumpled for the second time this year as the Countryman failed to match last year's pace and the most established Mini models continued to post declines. The new Paceman is slow getting going, and with just 140...
- Mini Usa Car Sales Charts - April 2013
Two of the seven available Minis accounted for three quarters of Mini USA volume in April 2013. Sales of the conventional Mini Cooper, which is known as the Hardtop, fell 6% in April and are down 6% through the first four months of 2013. Sales of the...
- Mini Usa Sales Chart: January-august 2012
For the first time ever, in the long history of the Mini Roadster, the two-seat softtop Mini outsold the two-seat hardtop Mini Coupe in the United States. The Roadster's been on sale since February. Mini's U.S. dealers sold five...
Cars
What Can The Fiat 500L Do For Fiat USA?
The 500L is only available with front-wheel-drive. Even the Mini is only available with all-wheel-drive at the top of lineup. Neither car is a faithful design follower of the iconic original; the Fiat less so. Neither car is particularly quick. Both cars feature highly stylized interiors, neither of which is roomy like a proper SUV. By Mini standards, the Countryman isn't pretty. By car standards, the Fiat is ill-proportioned.
Regardless of their stark differences and apparent similarities, it's safe to project approximately 20,000 annual U.S. sales for the 500L, based on the Mini Countryman's total. Fiat USA will likely sell around 43,000 500s in 2012.
If the 500L can find 20,000 buyers in 2013 while selling another 43,000 500 hatchbacks, where does this position the Fiat brand?
Strictly judged by volume, Fiat would only barely be trailing Mini. Fiat would be selling nearly as many cars as Volvo and would be selling twice as many vehicles as Porsche.
Check out historic monthly and yearly sales figures for the regular Fiat 500, Mini Cooper range, Mini Countryman, and any other vehicle or brand by making your selection at GCBC's Sales Stats home. U.S. brand rankings, where Fiat ranked 29th in October and Mini ranked 24th, can be accessed here.
- Mini Usa Car Sales Charts - September 2013 Ytd
BMW USA reported an 8% improvement in Mini sales in September 2013 on strong sales of the company's three least practical models, including two of its topless cars. Convertible sales jumped 59%, or 180 units. Roadster sales jumped 87%, or...
- Mini Usa Car Sales Charts - June 2013 Ytd
Click Either Chart For Larger View19.5% of BMW USA's June sales volume originated from the Mini brand in 2013, down from 21.6% in June 2012. Mini sales were up 9.6% thanks to near-brand-wide increases and the addition of the Paceman, but the...
- Mini Usa Car Sales Charts - May 2013
Sales at BMW USA's Mini branch crumpled for the second time this year as the Countryman failed to match last year's pace and the most established Mini models continued to post declines. The new Paceman is slow getting going, and with just 140...
- Mini Usa Car Sales Charts - April 2013
Two of the seven available Minis accounted for three quarters of Mini USA volume in April 2013. Sales of the conventional Mini Cooper, which is known as the Hardtop, fell 6% in April and are down 6% through the first four months of 2013. Sales of the...
- Mini Usa Sales Chart: January-august 2012
For the first time ever, in the long history of the Mini Roadster, the two-seat softtop Mini outsold the two-seat hardtop Mini Coupe in the United States. The Roadster's been on sale since February. Mini's U.S. dealers sold five...