Fiat's rapid ascent back up the European best-seller list continued again last month, driven forward once again by market demand for the new Grande Punto model which cemented its January position as the buyers' model of choice. The total European market (counting the 15 European Union member nations plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland) climbed by just 2.3 pct. In contrast Fiat in total was up by 12.1 pct, and in particular the Fiat brand itself was up by a massive 19 pct.

In total Fiat shifted 91,943 vehicles (including Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Light Commercial Vehicles and Maserati) last month, up by 12.1 pct on February 2005 when 81,995 new Fiat division vehicles were registered. This additional 10,000 units served to raise Fiat's overall Western European market share to 9.0 pct last month, up from the 8.2 pct it achieved in February 2005.

Fiat-branded vehicles (including LCV) were up by a massive 19 pct, following January's trend, with 69,237 new vehicles being registered last month (compared to 58,198 in Feb 2005). This performance, driven sharply upwards by major demand for the exciting new B-segment Grande Punto model range, raised Fiat's total market share to 6.7 pct, up from 5.8 pct a year ago. This sterling showing from Fiat masked falls which occurred at the Alfa Romeo and Lancia units last month. Alfa Romeo's share shrunk by 4.6 pct with 11,623 new cars being registered last month, as opposed to the 12,189 sold in Feb 2005.
 

The 'sporty' brand's total market share contracted very slightly to 1.1 pct (from the 1.2 pct it achieved in Feb 2005). Meanwhile, Lancia was down by 3.3 pct, after selling 10,869 new cars last month, compared to 11,237 in Feb 2005. Despite losing the Lybra model range last year and the marketplace maturing of the key Ypsilon and Musa models, and the niche position of the Phedra, Lancia was still able to hold its total share steady at 1.1 pct.

Elsewhere German carmaker Volkswagen had a very good month helped by a strong showing right across its model range, and was up by 15.1 pct, while its sister brand Skoda (+18.1pct), domestic rival Mercedes-Benz (+6.5pct) and Japanese giant Toyota (+5.7pct) were the picks amongst the other winners in the European markets.

In fact, the Fiat Group, the established sixth biggest European carmaker (after it sold 91,943 vehicles last month) is swiftly closing in on Renault (96,649 vehicles in Feb 2005,) Ford Europe (100,049) and GM Group (103,283) and the revitalised carmaker returns to glory days once more.