"An asset that is a part of our history and our culture has been recaptured" Fiat announced in upbeat national newspaper advertisements earlier this week.

Meanwhile European new car registration data for January reflect a new strategy in tough market conditions, although Light Commercial Vehicle division has seen sales continue to boom.

Fiat take out newspaper advertisements

Fiat this week placed full back page advertisements in several leading national daily newspapers to herald the ending of the GM alliance. Addressed to all 'fans of Italy', in an upbeat statement Fiat Group Chairman Luca di Montezemolo and Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne, announced that the company is once again 'all Italian'.

The statement, signed by Montezemolo and Marchionne appeared above the logos of the group's brands: Ferrari, Lancia, Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Maserati.

It read as follows: "For us, today is an important day, because Fiat is all Italian once again. Something that has belonged to it forever is back. An asset that is a part of our history and our culture has been recaptured, because Italians have always known how to make cars. It is a decisive step to overcome the challenges that await. We believe. Continue to support us."

Tough January for Fiat in Europe

European new car registrations slid by 0.8 percent last month, led downwards by the new EU member states which recorded a sales dropped of more than 12 percent. Registration fell by 3.7 percent in Italy, a similar figure to that seen by the German market.
 

Fiat Auto's share fell by 19.3 percent year-on-year, a figure attributed to a policy of concentrating on profitable private sales as opposed to the loss-leading fleet sector. With a tough start to the year having been envisioned, and targets being set lower as higher margins in particular are sought, Fiat's senior management were generally satisfied with the result, which saw 88,379 new cars registered (compared to 109,500 in January 2004).

Of the specialist brands, Lancia sales dropped by 9.1 percent while Alfa Romeo were the biggest loser, down 27.9 percent. The group's market share came in at 7.2 percent (as opposed to 8.9 pct in January 2004). The Fiat brand share moved from 6.5 percent to 5.3 percent, while Lancia went from down 0.1 percent 0.9 percent, and Alfa Romeo shed 0.3 percent to wind up on 1 percent.

With a stream of exciting new models about to come on stream, including the new Fiat Croma, Alfa Romeo Brera and 159, and the Lancia Ypsilon Sport, as well as the autumn arrival of the important next generation Punto, the early months of this year will see Fiat very happy to keep the ship steady, in a market that is expected to throw up tough trading conditions.

BOOMING START TO THE YEAR FOR LCV DIVISION

"Sales of Fiat vans got off to a positive start in January", Fiat have announced, adding that the result "is even better when compared with last year's already remarkable growth". This surge in Italian sales was spread evenly across the range, from the Punto to the Ducato.

In essence sales grew by a whopping 41.5 percent last month year-on-year, an excellent result if it is compared to 40.7 percent grow that occurred in January 2004.

The large Ducato van was up by 5.4 percent with 2,869 sales, with the new range-topping 146bhp JTD model, which feature variable geometry turbine technology, has also seen strong uptake. The Punto and Doblo Cargo continued the trend, both up by more than 10 percent, while the Strada pick-up, and the Scudo mid-size van, which was facelifted last year, both registered solid growth.