New products will drive more growth at Fiat.(News)(dialogue with Luca De Meo)(Interview)

Fiat brand Vice President Luca De Meo expects the Italian carmaker's 2007 western European unit sales to reach nearly 1 million, a level Fiat last achieved in 2002.

Fiat brand's 2006 western European sales grew to 890,146 units, up 20.9 percent from 2004. De Meo spoke about Fiat's future plans this month with Automotive News Europe Chief Correspondent Luca Ciferri in Turin.

How will Fiat do this year?

We still have to regain the ground we lost between 2002 and 2005.

We plan a further 7 percent to 10 percent increase in sales this year, getting very close to 1 million ...