Since the Fiat Chrono It topped the patent chart in September 2020, has never dropped, and more than two years after that event, not only became the best-selling model of 2021 and 2022, it’s a phenomenon.
Production of the Cronos began in the factory that the Italian brand has in Ferreyra, Córdoba, five years ago. They’ve already left there more than 280,000 units and there is no other plant in the world that produces it.
In a short time, the compact sedan managed to become an icon of the national automotive industry; First, because it is the vehicle with the further integration of local components (almost every second piece is produced in the country); and secondly, for achieving and exceeding production and sales records in local and regional markets.
race to the top
The Crono had a discreet debut on the local market. In 2018, it sold 13,929 units, a far cry from the more than 33,000 patented for the Hilux. It was far from being the most popular in its class: models like the Chevrolet Prisma, Toyota Etios or Renault Logan sold the most. The Argo also far surpassed it. All in a market of over 800,000 sales.
In 2019, the number of patents for the Fiat model did not change much, it was even lower (11,080). But since that year, sales of km 0 have dropped by 42%, that volume was enough to sneak into the top ten best sellers of the year (ranked 9).
The breakup took place in 2020, when the brand’s strategy pointed its cannons in the direction of Cronos. Since then the model has known nothing but returning satisfaction to Fiat; to the point of becoming his own in 2021 first number one in sales in more than 25 yearssomething that hasn’t happened since 1995.
In a market increasingly limited by import restrictions, deliveries of Cronos km 0 have always been the order of the day and without surcharge; a factor that is anything but secondary.
FCA, the group that included Fiat and Jeep, now all part of the Stellantis Group, then decided to allocate its options to importing more profitable vehicles, focusing on the 4×4 brand models and leaving aside the cheaper Fiat vehicles, like the Mobi and the Argo.
In this way, anyone entering a Fiat dealership received a Cronos as their first offer. It would also have been the second and third. Furthermore, any financing options or advantages should be applied to the model produced in Córdoba.
The recipe was repeated in 2022, when it also reached the historic participation record, with a 15.2% share of the total market, the best evaluation of a Fiat model since 1993.
The rousing start of 2023 anticipates his leadership again. THE 7,078 units sold in January (14.8% share), it confirmed its best-seller, winning almost double the number of patents of the Peugeot 208 (3,873 units), its immediate successor.
There is still a long way to go, but Chronos’ time has been a long time coming.
Source: Clarin
Ben Stock is a journalist working for News Rebeat, where he covers the automobile section. With a passion for cars and the industry, Ben brings insightful and in-depth reporting to his readers.
