The Europe-wide new car market remained flat last month, with Fiat once again satisfied to hold onto its share, although Lancia - as is now usual - had another terrific month.

Across Europe the market remained flat, although the biggest market - Germany - registered a healthy 8.2 pct rise, while France and Spain recorded a mild gain. The UK fell again, and Italy - a poor performer throughout this year - was however up 18 pct due to the after effects of May's car transporter driver's strike which hit deliveries and created a backlog that only cleared up last month.

Overall, Fiat Auto took a 6.3 pct share (6.7 pct in June 2004) of the Eurozone market (comprising of the 15 European Union member nations plus the EFTA countries) with 92,868 new vehicles being registered (virtually unchanged from 94,645 in June 2004), which all added up to a slight drop of 1.9 pct, year-on-year.

Splitting the Fiat Auto Divisions brands up. 67,282 Fiat-badged vehicles - including light commercial's - left the showrooms across Europe last month, as opposed to 70,400 in June 2004, leaving them with a 4.6 pct market share (down from 5.0 pct in June 2004). The LCV arm once again had a good month, and the new Fiat Croma 'station wagon' is also - for the first time - making its presence felt in the sales charts. Alfa Romeo registered 12,132 new cars last month (from 14,222 in June 2004) down 14.7 pct to give them an 0.8 pct share of the European market (from 1.0 pct in June 2004).

Lancia were the main beneficiaries last month - once again - with 13,016 new cars, mainly Ypsilon and Musa models, hitting the roads across Europe, up by an excellent 36.8 pct year on year (9,517 cars sold in June 2004). It moves Lancia's market share last month up to 0.9 pct (from 0.7 pct in June 2004).

However with the new registrations distortions caused by May's strike being absorbed, the figures are not particularly relevant and this month will offer a much clearer picture of the sales situation.
 

Big winners across Europe last month included the VW/Audi Group (+18 pct), Toyota and Lexus (+16.5 pct), Kia (+52.5 pct) and BMW Group, including MINI (+21.5 pct).

All the three Fiat Auto brands included, for the first six month of the year Fiat have sold 599,945 vehicles, down 14.2 pct year-on-year (542,748 sold in January-June 2004). Fiat-badged vehicles are down 16.4 pct year on year for the first six months, Alfa Romeo are down 18.4 pct, while Lancia are up a promising 5.0 pct. With important new models such as the best-selling Fiat Punto and the executive Alfa Romeo 159 still waiting in the wings, the sales performance is quite respectable thus far this year.

FIAT MEET WITH FUND MANAGERS AS RUMOURS CIRCULATE

Fiat Group and Auto Division CEO Sergio Marchionne met with important fund managers last week as rumours continue to circulate of impending further structural changes. Fiat released the following statement - although it offered little new - in Turn after the meeting: "Within the framework of regular relations with markets, Sergio Marchionne, Chief Executive Officer of Fiat, met today several fund managers at the offices of Mediobanca. In the course of the meeting, Mr. Marchionne reported on the operating performance of the Group and its outlook and confirmed, among other things, that the investment in Rcs is a “strategic” one. Fiat’s Chief Executive Officer reiterated to fund managers what he had already said on the occasion of the Stockholders Meeting held two weeks ago in Turin. No additional information was therefore provided other than that already disclosed to markets, and on the occasion of the Fiat Stockholders Meeting."