Fiat is in the middle of its UK journey to 100,000 sales a year, according to Fiat Auto UK managing director Giulio Salomone.

“In 2005 we had a 1.4% market share, this year with Panda and Grande Punto it is 2.9% and by 2010 we want 4%,” he said speaking at the UK Bravo launch in Stratford-upon-Avon.

“The future for us now is the Bravo, tomorrow we have the 500 which we launch here in January 2008,” said Salomone.

He expects sales this year to be around 60,000 units – boosted by about 6,000 new Bravos. Next year, Fiat expects Bravo sales to rise to 12,000.

As part of the growth, Fiat is looking to expand its dealer network from 160 today to 190 by 2010. “In the last month or two we have had many approaches from companies wanting to become Fiat dealers even before the launch of the 500,” he said.

You can read AM’s full interview with Giulio Salomone in the June 29 issue of AM. To subscribe to AM magazine click here or call 01733 468659.