According to Automotive News, citing a statement by Fiat and Chrysler Group LLC CEO Sergio Marchionne, gas-powered vehicles will appear in Fiat's model lineup for the American market as early as 2011. As Marchionne explained, initially light commercial vehicles and vans with gas powertrains will be sent to the US. These vehicles are planned to be used in corporate fleets, which will help solve the problem of refueling infrastructure.
It is worth noting that although the US ranks first in the world in natural gas production, surpassing even Russia in this indicator, the market for gas motor fuel in the country is only beginning to take shape. For comparison, Italy has more than 800 refueling stations for gas vehicles. Last year, Fiat sold approximately 127,000 gas-powered cars in Europe, and its share of the light commercial vehicle market with gas engines reaches 55%.
