Fiat Auto turned in another very positive performance in its home market last month, as it posted a 5.93 percent rise just as the overall Italian market fell by 3.24 percent. Imported automotive brands fared the worst, accounting for a 6.81 pct year-on-year fall, revealed figures released by Italian trade body ANFIA.

The Fiat brand (including LCV) performed strongly in Italy last month, once again helped in a great part by demand for the Grande Punto model, with sales up 9.36 pct year-on-year as 45,157 new vehicles were registered compared to 39,465 in September 2005. This raised their share of the overall market from the 20.95 pct it achieved in September 2005, to 23.67 pct last month. Alfa Romeo meanwhile turned in the best results of the Auto Division brands', up 12.04 pct year-on-year after they sold 5,545 cars compared to the 4,949 they registered in September 2005. This raised the 'sporty' unit's market share from 2.63 to 3.04 pct.

Lancia though suffered somewhat ahead of the market introduction of the new Ypsilon model as demand slackened for the outgoing model, the mainstay of its sales reach. During September the 'luxury' division was down 13.80 pct year-on-year as 7,205 new Lancias hit the Italian roads compared to 8,358 units during the equivalent period last year. This meant their overall Italian market share slid from 4.44 pct down to 3.95 pct.
 

Fiat Auto has now sold 551,171 vehicles domestically this year, up an excellent 15.42 pct year-on-year. The Fiat brand has now seen 418,820 new vehicles registered up to the end of September, a rise of 19.18 pct year-on-year (351,409 during Jan-Sep 2005); Alfa Romeo has sold 55,862 cars this year, up 15.70 pct; while Lancia has sold 77,431 units, down by 1.26 pct. For the year to date Fiat has taken 23.29 pct of all Italian sales, Lancia has a 4.31 pct cut, while Alfa Romeo is on 3.11 pct.

The Punto model (including the outgoing Punto and the new Grande Punto) cements its position as Italy's best-selling car with 16,694 sales. For the year to date 181,178 have now been sold. The Panda is the second best-seller, 13,084 unitd last month helping it to 112,771 for YTD. Last month 5,031 Ypsilon models were sold, putting it in 5th place in the Italian sales league, where it also positioned for the year with 52,125 sales. The Punto was also the best-selling diesel car in Italy last month with 9,681 sales, while the Panda was in fourth with 4,083 units. The Alfa 159 squeezed into the diesel top-ten in tenth place with 2,197 units sold.