TU-TESL

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According to foreign media reports, FCA plans to withdraw from the European market and give up its leading position in this market segment. In order to make vehicles meet more stringent emission standards, the cost of research and development of micro vehicles is increasing, which makes FCA and other vehicle manufacturers reduce their products. FCA chief executive Mike Manley said the company plans to turn Fiat mini car consumers into subcompact users. But he did not disclose when the plan would be implemented. The company's Retro Fiat 500 and panda models dominate the European small car market, but they are very old and need to be replaced. The Fiat 500, which was launched in July 2007, has been sold for 12 years. Its retro style comes from the first Fiat 500 model released in 1957, which has also become the iconic model of Fiat. In the first half of this year, Fiat 500 sales in Europe fell 9% to 100, 150 vehicles. The third-generation panda was launched in February 2012. According to Automotive News Europe, sales of the model increased by 15% in the first half of this year to 105534. In the third quarter of this year, FCA's losses in Europe reached 55 million euros (about $61 million). Manley told analysts that Fiat's "business challenges" in Europe stem from excessive investment in the low margin micro car segment, as well as the "highest average age in the industry" product line. Last year Fiat announced that the Punto model was discontinued and exited the small car segment. Now the company plans to win back the favor of small car consumers. Punto has been Fiat's best-selling car in Europe for a long time, but Sergio Marchionne, the former CEO of FCA, believes that the car's sales volume is not large enough to develop new models for it. Mr. mcminkay said Fiat's goal is to get loyal micro car consumers to start accepting small cars while retaining customers who still own Punto models. He said the small car market was the largest segment in Europe, with a "bigger profit pool than the small car segment.". Mcminkay did not disclose which models Fiat will launch in the small car market, nor the future of panda and Fiat 500 models. The planned merger of FCA and PSA will enable Fiat to obtain the power of PSA common modular platform, which is adopted by PSA's latest small cars, such as Peugeot 208 and Opel corsa. These vehicles all have version and internal combustion engine version. Fiat is still selling vehicles that also use the 500 brand but compete in the small car market. In the first half of this year, its sales volume of 500L reached 24112, becoming the best-selling minivan in Europe. The company's 500X ranks 10th in sales of small SUVs / crossover vehicles. The 500L and 500X use a small, wide American platform, shared with Jeep compass and Freeman. Panda and Fiat 500 use Fiat's Micro platform. In addition to the FCA, other vehicle manufacturers are also rethinking their small vehicle strategies in response to the EU's costly new regulations on safety and emissions, particularly carbon dioxide emissions. And Opel have both exited the mini car segment in Europe. Ford has stopped selling Indian made Ka + cars in Europe, while Opel has given up Korean made Karl and Adam models. Executives have said privately that the company is ready to give up the internal combustion engine version of the up minicar, which almost certainly means that the fuel powered West Yate MII and Skoda citigo will also disappear.