Chrysler Australia group to distribute Fiat and Alfa Romeo brands in Australia

SYDNEY – March 29, 2012: The Chrysler Australia group has announced it will act as the distributor for Fiat and Alfa Romeo brands in Australia from 1st May, 2012.

Managing director of the CA group, Clyde Campbell, confirmed the takeover of the iconic Italian brands today.

“We are delighted to be named the official distributor of Fiat, Fiat Commercial and Alfa Romeo, and we look forward to re-energising these brands in the Australian market,” Campbell said.

Under the new agreement, the current Fiat and Alfa Romeo dealer group, which numbers 17 passenger dealerships with 22 commercial vehicle outlets across the country, will report into the Melbourne-based Chrysler Australia group.

Sales for the Fiat, Fiat Commercial and Alfa Romeo brands during 2011 were recorded by VFACTS at 2,635 vehicles.

Models offered on the Australian market include the Alfa Romeo 159, the 159 Sportwagon and the Giulietta. Fiat models include the Fiat 500, the Fiat 500 Abarth, and Fiat Commercial brands Ducato and Scudo.

The CA group of companies, which currently manages the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brands in the Australian market, has seen a remarkable surge in sales in the past twelve months. Calendar year 2011 saw the American marque increase combined sales by 27.5 per cent, and 2012 January and February sales are up 78 per cent on the same period last year. This bodes well for the future of the Italian brands, according to Campbell.

“We plan to tap into the inherent talent and expertise of our staff to take the Fiat and Alfa brands to the next level ,” he said.

“We aim to apply the same enthusiasm that has driven such a leap forward in terms of our current Chrysler Australia sales.

“I have no doubt we will see a re-awakening in the levels of sales awareness and interest for the Fiat and Alfa brands under our management,” Campbell concluded.

The transfer of distributorship of the Fiat and Alfa Romeo brands to the Chrysler Australia group has occurred on the back of the global strategic alliance formed between the Fiat Group in Italy and the Chrysler Group in the United States in 2009.

The Fiat and Alfa Romeo brands have a rich history in the international automotive market, beginning in 1899 when the Societa Anonima Fabbrica Italiana di Automobili Torino, or F.I.A.T., was founded by Giovanni Agnelli, and the company built their first vehicle, the 4HP. Since its inception, the Fiat Group has produced approximately 97 million passenger cars and light commercial vehicles and has claimed international “Car of the Year” titles for twelve of its models.