05.04.2004 FIAT OUTPERFORMS THE ITALIAN NEW CAR MARKET DURING FEBRUARY WHICH SLIDES BY 8% YEAR ON YEAR

Italian new car registrations slid 8% year-on-year last month, but the Fiat Group, with new models coming into play, bucked the trend to fall just 2.3%.

However this fall is slightly misleading as last March Italians were taking advantage of a government incentive scheme to trade in older less environmentally friendly models that was drawing to a close.

Fiat, with a then ageing model range suffered as buyers plumped for newer models such as the Toyota Yaris and BMW Mini.

Generally Italian car sales are holding up well and Fiat is performing strongly. Fiat's registered a market share of 28.7% last month, less than half a percentage point down on February's figure of 29.1%.

While Fiat slipped 3.2% and Lancia were down by 1.9%, Alfa Romeo posted a strong increase of 2.8%, helped by demand for the new GT Coupe and revitalised interest in the facelifted 156 and 166 saloons.

Over the last year Fiat have pumped out an array of new models which Italian buyers have taken to. They include the Fiat Panda and Idea, the new Lancia Ypsilon, and Alfa Romeo's sporty Bertone-designed GT Coupe. A fresh look for the best selling Punto has given it a new lease of life, while the Stilo, given a minor makeover at the end of the year, is finally receiving buyer acceptance with sales up.