Particularly in November-December, a rising number of car importers or dealers are rolling out special promotions, but these do not have a significant impact over sales, says AutoItalia chairman, Herbert Stein.
In the last few months of the year, most dealers and importers offered discounts or special offers for car acquisition, particularly for the models launched in previous years.
"Sales have and will go up irrespective of whether there are promotions or discounts. But there will come a time when this growth will slow down. Companies should not waste money. Nevertheless, the current trend, which entails promotions, has to be followed. Current offers haven't considerably influenced sales," stated Stein, the chairman of AutoItalia, the importer of Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Maserati, SsangYong brands and Honda motorcycles domestically.
Currently, AutoItalia is rolling out promotional offers for 5 Fiat passenger cars, 4 Fiat commercial vehicles and 4 Alfa Romeo models.
AutoItalia has revised the target for the current year to 16.500 units. "The target for this year has been upwardly revised to 16,500 units, from the 15,000-unit target set in mid-2007, accounting for an increase by around 65% against 2006. Of these, Fiat will account for as much as 70%," Stein had previously told ZF.
For 2008, the importer expects sales growth to slow down. "(...) In 2008, we are most likely to grow by 30% and sell around 20,000 cars. In 2012, when we expect the market to witness slower growth, we put sales at 30,000 units," added Stein.
In the first 11 months of 2007, Fiat sales reached 8,972 units, up over 50% from the same period of last year.
Next February, AutoItalia will launch the new 500 domestically, which it presented on the West European market at the middle of this year.
Investments in the construction of new headquarters were delayed until 2008. "The new headquarters of AutoItalia will no longer be built in the area of Timisoara boulevard. To this end, a 10,000 square metre plot has been acquired. Investments in the new location stand at 20m euros," added Stein.
"In 2008, AutoItalia's dealer network will expand to Alexandria, Alba Iulia, Arad, Sf. Gheorghe, Buzau, Sibiu, Targu Jiu," Stein also said.
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