Sadly the job as Brand manager for Lancia and Jeep is vacant again. This information was reported by German car magazine Automobilwoche yesterday. Dirk Bott was the last brand manager for Lancia and Jeep, who was appointed on the 1st of April 2011. He already left Lancia about 3 months ago, related to personal affairs. According to Lancia, the job is still vacant and it is not foreseen when a new Brand manager is in place.

Dirk Bott had a career with Volvo Cars as Vice President Business Development China, before he became Brand Country Manager at Lancia/Jeep. He was responsible for the operative results and the presentation of the Brand. The global target was strengthening the image of both Brands. 45-year old Bott was the successor of Haico van der Luyt, who left Fiat on the 31st of Januar 2011. Van der Luyt was only responsible for Alfa Romeo and Lancia, but now also had to supervise Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge.

The change in management is rather undesired at this moment. Fiat  reorganises the whole Lancia/Chrysler dealer network. Fiat Germany and a lot of other European countries where Fiat is active will no longer sell the brand Chrysler, but instead Lancia. This has a major impact on the dealer network, which has to be reorganised. Fiat started at the 1st of July 2011 and will finish the reorganisation in Germany before 2014. Their goal is to have 154 dealers in Germany around 2014.

The sales have to increase, because Lancia sold just under 2400 units. Fiat Germany director Martin Rada will invest 20 Million Euros for Lancia commercials. Fiat Germany sold up to 120,000 cars and light commercial vehicles in 2011 for al the FGA brands (Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Abarth, Jeep and Fiat Professional). The car sales went up 3.6 % to a total of 100,000 cars. The Brand Fiat sold up to 80,125 cars. This year Martin Rada aims at raising sales with high percentages for all the brands.