Fiat originally anticipated building only 60,000 units annually, but customer interest has already eclipsed that number. In the first half of 2008, nearly 94,000 orders were placed, creating a waiting list for an Italian car with less than 500 hp.
To help quell the queue, Fiat's wrenching on its plant in Tychy, Poland, allowing the factory to build nearly 200,000 500s each year. The same plant is also responsible for building the Fiat Panda and the new 2009 Ford Ka, and is expected to build 500,000 cars annually - perhaps more, if Fiat pursues plans to export the 500 to the U.S.
Source: Autocar