Fiat will make its plans to re-enter the U.S. auto market official, after some 28 years away, at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. The company, which now controls Chrysler, is expected to unveil the American version of its popular European "500" city car (left) in both hatch and cabriolet forms. Although Fiat is believed to be looking for dealers in 41 states, there is no word as yet as to which other Fiat models will be sold in the U.S.
Fiat, which now has effective control of Chrysler-Jeep, first established a factory in America in 1908, but it pulled the plug on sales at the beginning of 1983 after selling just 14,113 vehicles the previous year.
The Italian brand has an image building job to do in America. Despite its long absence, the company's 2009 takeover of Chrysler was met with some amazement stateside, where Fiat's reputation for poor quality is still remembered.
Source: Autocar