"The big fish eats the little fish" says the wise people. The same saying can be paraphrased for the automotive industry, and especially for the Fiat as the "big" Grande Panda eats the small and classic Panda, which is experiencing a drop in demand that forces the Pomigliano d'Arco plant to put production on ice for a few days in November.
The Fiat Panda is undoubtedly one of the longest running models on the market, having been in production since 2011 and is one of the most commercially successful cars, setting record registration numbers over the years, with Stellantis' decision not to replace it by continuing production until 2027.
In essence, the Fiat Panda is a timeless legend of the European automotive industry. A landmark car of usability and functionality, building a fan base since 1980 and with sales exceeding 4.5 million for 44 years. An audience that, while continuing to buy the current model, anxiously awaited the replacement... which was late in coming.
Shifting the consumer audience
The new model was presented in July 2024, moving up a class and representing Fiat in the B Segment segment, while accompanying the smaller model, with the same advantages, a modern profile and 80ties aesthetics, creating nostalgia for the original model. At the same time with a highly competitive price, it directly threatens the small Panda. The public is responding positively to the Grande Panda, awaiting its official launch, a launch that will bring a shift of traditional Panda customers to the larger segment, with a simultaneous and natural decline in sales of the small model, which despite recent upgrades, remains a previous generation car with obsolete technology.
Its value is undeniable for Fiat, for whom it was the car that kept them going in difficult times. For the Italian company, the model has paid off the investment and has brought profits to the coffers. The commercial interest, as expected, will fall on the Grande Panda and the small model will continue to be produced in Italy, with a horizon until 2027 or until when Stellantis will judge... epossibly by readjusting production.
Win - Win
With the Grande Panda, Fiat is expanding its commercial range, targeting a new audience looking for an affordable and functional car that aims to become the Italians' next best-seller. On the other hand, the already successful Panda has more than paid for itself and will continue to contribute, albeit with reduced production. A Win - Win for Fiat with the common denominator being the legend of the Panda.
