Serbia is back on the U.S. car industry map after the announcement that the new Fiat 500L, manufactured in Kragujevac, will enter the U.S. market in 2013.
A number of U.S. newspapers have reported about the return of vehicles produced in Serbia to the U.S. market.
The new model was shown publicly for the first time in a commercial during the Super Bowl, where a 30 second commercial cost USD 3.5 million.
The U.S. media say Serbian President Boris Tadic was present at the international car show in Geneva, where the 500L was presented. The Wall Street Journal even conducted a short inteview with Tadic at the show.
The New York Times and USA Today state that the 500L will enter the U.S. market in 2013 and that a special network of dealers is being prepared for it.
USA Today, which has the largest circulation in the country, predicts that the 500L will be the main competitor for the BMW’s series of Mini Coopers.
The newspaper points out that Fiat’s vehicles are sold in the U.S. as part of the Chrysler Group, but with their own separate dealership network.
The Business Week website says at least 10 new dealerships, along with the existing 140 that Fiat has, will be established once the 500L starts selling.
Automobile Magazine states the new Fiat will be more acceptable to the U.S. market, because it is larger than its predecessor and has more space in the boot. The weekly also compares the car to the Mini Cooper, remarking that they will be each other’s main competitors.
Source Emg
