Re: Niche Cars...

["Roger Pellegrini" <pellegrini_roger@domain.elided>]

Robert Brady mentioned:  "...I see no evidence that Fiat wants to, or
intends to be a niche automobile manufacturer".

Hmm.  I think one could look at this a bit differently.  Isn't FIAT's
Ferrari the best example in history of a successful niche manufacturer?
And their new Maserati?

They all serve a purpose in the global strategy of FIAT group.

And clearly Alfa was a niche player in the US market for many years.  To my
mind, it's just a question of whether the profit margins substantiate the
presence.  I understand that Alfa's profits in the US did not, and in fact
that they sold many cars at a loss.  Ferraris and new Masers are, I
imagine,  a different matter.  But couldn't one imagine that a tricked out
ALFA GTV V6 (at a relatively high price point) being a money maker even at
"niche" volume levels?  Who knows?

Roger
1994 164LS (niche and too soft!)
1969 1750 Spider (nice and niche)



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