- At the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Gianluca Italia, Head of Brand Fiat – EMEA Region – Fiat Group Automobiles, presented the initial results of ‘FIAT Likes U’.
- The project offers the students a completely free car sharing service, eight scholarships, eight lectio magistralis, eight paid on-the-job training placements and advantageous promotions on the entire Fiat range.
- Having begun on 15 September in the universities of Turin and Rome, to date the car sharing service has been used by more than 1800 students, who have made use of the eight cars – New Panda and 500L models – made available.
- The first two scholarships have been awarded, each worth 5,000 euros.
- More than 500 young people have taken part in the selection of the 4 Fiat Ambassadors.
- Until 31 December special promotions for university students who buy a Fiat car.
- Further information is available on the fiat.it/likesU and www.fiat.it websites.
Today in Milan, at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, a press conference took place to present the second phase of ‘Fiat Likes U’, the project created in collaboration by Fiat and the Ministry of Education, with the backing of the Ministry for the Environment, which offers many advantages to the approximately 280,000 students enrolled in the eight universities involved in the initiative, in the cities of Turin, Rome, Milan, Salerno, Parma, Cosenza, Pisa and Catania.
The event saw the participation of Mario Gatti, Campus Director of the Milanese university, and Gianluca Italia, Head of Brand Fiat – EMEA Region, who presented the extraordinary results recorded in the first three months of the project’s existence, in addition to awarding the first two scholarships and announcing the extension of the initiative to other Italian and foreign universities (some agreements are already at an advanced stage in Turkey, Spain and Switzerland).
For the first time in Europe, a car manufacturer is dedicating itself with the world of the University to an initiative which is comprehensive, concrete, simple and full of opportunities in terms of Mobility, through a car sharing service which is completely free for students; Study, with the awarding of eight scholarships, each worth 5,000 euros, and eight lectio magistralis with Fiat managers; and Work, through the offer of eight paid on-the-job training placements.
The project springs from Fiat’s desire to provide practical answers to the mobility problems of young people, who are increasingly more focused on eco-friendliness and economic issues. Young people put the utmost emphasis on reducing environmental impact and at the same time seek cars with low fuel consumption and running costs, priced according to their spending potential and with suitable purchasing plans. Precise requests like these require equally precise answers. This is why Fiat is offering practical solutions, available now for everyone. But, as the name suggests, “Fiat Likes U” is something more. It is an investment in the University that Fiat likes, a new way of saying “I believe in you” to all those students who are making a commitment today to make tomorrow better. This is a safe investment for the brand, especially in these times of economic instability, because “merit” and “know-how” are concrete values that represent a “safe-haven” asset in any country, regardless of market swings.
Presented on 13 September in Rome by Gianluca Italia himself and by Francesco Profumo, Minister of Education, the project was received with great enthusiasm by the young people involved in the first phase which, from 15 September to 15 December, saw the participation of two prestigious universities: the Politecnico di Torino and the LUISS in Rome. Suffice it to say that 8 students out of 10 made contact regarding the project – in part thanks to partners the Erasmus Student Network and Ustation – more than 1,800 students have made use of the eight cars – New Panda and 500L models – made available for a completely free car sharing service and more than 500 young people have taken part in the selection of the 4 Fiat Ambassadors.
‘Fiat Likes U’ is a far-reaching project which invests in young people and awards merit by offering opportunities for study and employment. More specifically, Fiat is offering one scholarship for each of the universities involved – each worth 5000 euros and for automotive-related dissertations – and eight paid on-the-job training placements. On the occasion of the press conference in Milan, Gianluca Italia awarded the first two scholarships to Gabriele Bergoglio of the Politecnico di Torino and Matteo Mariano of the Università di Pisa.
During the press conference at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore there were anecdotes regarding some of the 1,800 students of the Torinese and Roman universities’ students who, from September to December 2012, used ‘Fiat Likes U”s car sharing service for free. For example, a full-scale “booking war” broke out, with people staying up at night waiting for the booking slots for subsequent days to become available. Some people put all of the 500L’s space to good use transporting furniture and getting their accommodation order, some booked a Fiat for the weekend as a birthday treat to themselves and some, to make a splash, whisked their girlfriend off to Venice.
With the objective of promoting sustainable mobility by means of rational use of vehicles and contributing to increasing awareness of environmental issues in university, Fiat is making a car sharing service available completely free of charge with the collaboration of ICS (car sharing initiative) managers in the cities involved in the project. Using it is simple. The student accesses the www.fiat.it/likesu site, books the car – choosing between the New Panda and 500L models – and then picks it up in the dedicated area near the University where it will then be returned by the agreed time. The student can use it as they wish for 24 hours during the week or for a weekend. In cities where the “Io Guido” car sharing service is available, the Fiat cars can enter restricted-traffic areas and park free of charge.
Another fact that confirms the success of ‘Fiat Likes U’ is the more than 500 students who, in the first three months of the project, took part in selecting the first 4 Fiat Ambassadors, a role which involves coordinating the car sharing service in each university. These students will have a unique opportunity to put themselves to the test and showcase their management and organisational skills. That’s why they attend a training course dedicated to the project and which also introduces them to the technical and commercial aspects of the world of Fiat. What’s more, they receive a salary of 2000 euros during their employment. And that’s not all. The two best Fiat Ambassadors will be rewarded with a Fiat on free loan for three months. In short, becoming Fiat Ambassador at your university could be the first step of a successful career.
The “university” fleet of the ‘Fiat Likes U’ car sharing service features the New Panda and 500L models, the contemporary reinterpretation of two iconic Fiats. These cars are completely new and encapsulate all of Fiat’s experience in sustainable, accessible mobility. Some features also make them ideal for car sharing, such as the five doors, the great interior space and the flexibility of use. The engines of both models, which all exemplify high performance, low fuel consumption and low emissions, make the choice even more appealing. The revolutionary two-cylinder 0.9 TwinAir Turbo, “International Engine of the Year 2011”, stands out in particular, combining low displacement with a high-efficiency turbocharger.
The New Panda and 500L models in the “Fiat Likes U” car sharing project are equipped with the eco:Drive system, the eco-friendly application developed by Fiat in 2009. It analyses driving style by collecting on-board data and supplies personalised tips with the objective of reducing CO2 emissions and fuel consumption by up to 16%. It’s a genuine digital tutor which, when used constantly and correctly, allows you to save nearly 3 tons of CO2, 1200 litres of petrol and approximately 2000 euros during the entire life cycle of the car. Among all the students involved in the “Fiat Likes U” project’s car sharing initiative, the best eco:Drivers win a Fiat on free loan for one month and can take part in an “MTV live session” in Rome or Milan. The first winner was announced last week: Giovanni Lucchino of the Politecnico di Torino, from among the students of the Roman and Torinese universities.
Together with the project, Fiat is launching a sales offer for all university students in the 2012/2013 academic year: they’re being offered an exclusive soft loan with a 4.5% interest rate and no down payment to buy any model in the Fiat range. And that’s not all. Graduates earning top marks will be entitled to a zero interest loan, while honours students will have the highest possible discount, usually reserved for Fiat employees. All the above initiatives can be combined with other promotions which are underway when the car is purchased.
Putting the excellence of an international group at the service of young students to contribute in concrete manner to their education: this is the objective behind the eight lectio magistralis, one in each University involved, which see the participation of designers, engineers and managers from Fiat Group Automobiles, in addition to being supported by two important partners, the Erasmus Student Network and UStation, the university radio network. The first two lessons met with great success: the first by Roberto Giolito, Vice President of the Fiat Group Automobiles Design Center EMEA, at the Politecnico di Torino, the second by Gianluca Italia, titled: ‘New rules in the automotive sector’, at the LUISS Guido Carli University in Rome.
Fiat has always been a byword for innovative, accessible cars with winning looks and packed with equipment. The range is so wide and articulated in order to satisfy real everyday mobility needs and the increasing social awareness of environmental and safety issues. It is no coincidence that, for the fifth year running, Fiat is the brand which has recorded the lowest level of CO2 emissions by vehicles sold in Europe in 2011, with an average measurement of 118.2 g/km (4.9 g/km less than the 2010 average). This result was achieved thanks to technological heritage which continuously aims for innovation that is not an end in itself but is always at the service of the motorist. Fiat made the first direct injection diesel at the end of the 1980s. A great idea that was to open the way to the Common Rail revolution, a Centro Ricerche Fiat patent that changed the world of diesel for ever. The revolution continued in 2003 with MultiJet and in 2009 with MultiJet II, which today means that the Fiat diesel range is the cleanest in Europe, with only 122.3 g/km of CO2. The same records are to be found in the field of petrol engines, which saw the launch of two innovative technologies: MultiAir ( 2010) and TwinAir (2011).
