[RavenAvi]

It's apparent that the iconic car hasn't been making big profits for the Italian car company in recent years.

Fiat Spa has announced that it will be spending almost $12 billion (9 million Euros) over the span of the next three years on developing brand new models for the European market.

Most of the new models will be based on either the Fiat 500 or the Fiat Panda. Fiat had previously announced that it hopes to develop at least 20 new models for Europe by 2016, including eight Alfa Romeos. Some of those cars are a 500-based SUV along with Italian-made Jeeps to be introduced alongside the open version of Alfa’s 4C sports car.

A 5-door version of the 500 will be Punto's replacement. It will be built in Poland to save on costs, instead of Fiat Spa's Italian plants.

The successful Punto drove almost a third of all Fiat's sales in Europe until 2007, after which sales went on the decline. This despite Fiat launching refreshes of the car in periodic intervals.

Fiat has been steadily losing it's market share in Europe over the past four years, dropping to 6.2% from a healthy 9.3%. The Italian automaker has had almost 2 billion euros in operating losses since 2011, including over 300 million euros in losses for the first three quarters of 2013 alone.




SOURCE - http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...-next-3-years/

[Aditya]

In an attempt to revive its factories in Italy and end its losses in Europe, Fiat has decided to make certain changes to its policies and the positioning of its products. In the process, the company has dropped the Punto hatchback from its European line up.

Link to Team-BHP News Article

[sourabhzen]

Hard to imagine Itallian roads without Punto. But thats how things happen. I wonder if there was anything that could be done to keep this beauty alive. Hope someone can do the same to Punto as what TATAs did to JLR!

[Rubbertramps]

Holy Moly. I hope it doesnt have cascading effects here in India for the already declining sales charts. This news is not welcoming since we are expecting the next generation punto next year here.

[chaudh2s]

The news digs the final nail in Fiat India's coffin! This news will travel like wildfire over the next couple of weeks in all newspapers and magazines and basavanhalli would be scratching his head like anything. The timing of this withdrawl couldn't be any poorer.

[shobhit.shri]

If anyone, like me, has been wondering about the general state of European automobile market, read this article by Spiegel and this info-graphic from the same article.

On the face of it, sales in Europe are down by 25% from its 2007 level and while VW group is not affected by this decline, Hyundai has actually increased it by 37.9%, an incredible achievements by both manufacturers. FIAT's sales are down by 35.6%.

[ghodlur]

The news is to be taken with a pinch of salt. Although the iconic brand will be discontinued in Europe, the parent co will still be churning out the product in the 3rd world countries where there will be many takers. While Europe moves to multi air technology the Asian subcontinent still would be continuing with the age old MJD.

Should the Indian customer be concerned with the new?

[CARDEEP]

Fiat Punto is amongst the least reliable cars in Europe, which could be the major reason for its demise there. Here is a link to an article based on the respected TUV-Report where it stood 17th amongst the least liable European cars:

http://cars.uk.msn.com/features/the-...europe?page=27

There are more Fiats in the list & surprisingly the Dacia Logan is the least reliable cars in Europe.

[Pedaltothefloor]

It will continue to be sold in India. I look forward to new models that will be launched in Europe this decade, so they could make it here in the next decade.

[prokinetic]

The 5 door fiat 500 which is in talks, is also a very good-looking car. The pics on the net show it to be almost like a mini. Punto has been sold in a huge number in europe and fiat may want a completely new car to replace it and maintain sales.
About india, fiat may not discontinue punto for a long time to come. Keeping in mind the big exercise done by fiat to highly localize the punto, secures the punto's existance in india.

[namit]

I don't see any problem with punto although discontinued elsewhere continuing to be on sold in India

If other manufacturers can make compromised guises to cater the need of mango people in India and loot us with highly spoken of but very little on offer so can Punto continue

Also to note here that whether discontinued abroad yes or a no, punto is still a very competent hatch and arguably better than swift and unarguably second to swift

My take and waiting for fiat to be just aggressive in India and rest of the things will be taken care of automatically

[Aditya]

The replacement for the Fiat Punto could be called the 500 Plus.
Link to Team-BHP News Article