Weststar to sell FIAT in Nigeria
With the actual product models kept under wraps, Nigerian auto lovers will be for a another automotive product choice at their disposal come May this year as European brand, Fiat, will be launched into Nigeria’s automobile market under the dealership of Weststar Associates Limited.
Prior to this increase in brand portfolio to accommodate the Fiat brand, the local dealership is already home and general distributor to Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and RAM.
Letting the cat out of the bag last weekend, Mirko Plath, Weststar’s managing director and chief executive said the new business decision was motivated by its continuous faith in the Nigerian economy and desire to offer auto consumers opportunity to own one of the best-selling brands in Europe.
Market watchers believe that from all indications, the launch of Fiat models in Nigeria will widen Weststar’s market web from luxury automobiles to medium, Mini and super-mini automobile segment, a move that would enable it to slice into the market already dominated by the Japanese and Korean brands.
Down memory lane, Fiat which is located in South Africa is Fiat’s oldest manufacturing plant in Africa, from which it commenced assembly of passenger cars in 1950, and full production in its Rosslyn plant from 1966.
One of the oldest auto makers in the world, Fiat was founded in 1899, and the company’s first car was the 3 ½ CV, of which just eight were made.
When the models finally comes into the Nigerian market, Weststar shall be expected to also answer questions regarding plans towards setting up Fiat manufacturing plant in Nigeria, a move that would enable have access to some local assembly incentives under the Nigerian auto policy. In his submission, “Although things were difficult last year, we are optimistic that 2017 shall be a better year. Come May, therefore, we shall be launching four models of Fiat brand into the Nigerian market.”
Top on the speculation list of models for importation into the country is the Fiat 500 three-door hatchback and 500c convertible which fall between a city car and subcompact.
While the 500 Abarth and 500c Abarth features a serious dose of performance, thanks to the 160 horse-power 1.4-liter turbo-charged engine, also added to the brand line-up for the year 2017 is a four-door, five-passenger car, a much larger 500L.
Already being manufactured in South Africa are the Fiat 500 Hatch Fiat 500 Abarth, Fiat 500C, Fiat 500X, Fiat 500E, Fiat 124 Spider and Fiat 500L.
FIAT, which in Italian, translates to Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino, is a brand of Fiat Italy SPA, the largest automobile manufacturer in Italy, and part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, a name that was born following Fiat Group’s acquisition of 20% stake in US automaker, Chrysler LLC, in 2009, a deal which saw return of Fiat to North America after 25 years.
MIKE OCHONMA