Fiat 500 Is A Firm Favourite In Japan

When it comes to compact designs the Japanese know what it’s all about. If any nation were to understand the principles best it would be the Japanese.

That’s why when the Fiat 500 was voted ‘Best Compact Car’ of 2008 it was even more special as it was in a Japanese poll.

The poll was organized by the famous publishing company, Neko Publishing, which publishes the main Japanese motor magazines, both specialised and in other sectors. They got over 80,000 people to tell them what they thought were the best cars of this year and in the compact car sector the Fiat 500 came out on top.

It beat of stiff competition from rivals such as the Peugeot 308 and favourite Toyota iQ. This now takes the award tally to 29 for the Fiat 500 cementing its international success. The car branded with ‘Made in Italy ’ has asserted itself across the world having now received over 270,000 orders.

In Japan the Fiat 500 has been incredibly successful and demand has outstripped supply so far. This success abroad has been important in contributing to Fiat’s excellent performance in 2008: at the end of the year, the turnover is expected to be double that of 2007. This result is all the more significant if it is considered that it has been achieved in a constantly declining Japanese market (-19% in sales of national models, and -14% of imported cars).

In Italian style Fiat are opening the Fiat Café in Aoyama, Tokyo where customers can see the 500 on display on the first floor.

Ed Dooley

22/11/2008