Fiat Group Automobiles turned in a very highly impressive sales performance on their domestic market last month, with all three of the division's major brands showing strong year-on-year gains: Fiat is up 11.65 pct, Alfa Romeo rose 16.67 pct and Lancia gained 9.33 pct.

With a total of 223,504 new passenger and light commercial vehicles registered in Italy last month compared to 211,534 during the same period last year, the market rose a healthy 5.66 pct, continuing the positive start to the year's sales that was made in January. While sales of imported brands rose by 2.93 pct last month, the national carmaker, Fiat Group Automobiles was the real big winner though, it saw 72,827 new vehicles registered last month (65,174 in February 2006) and thus it was up by an impressive 11.79 pct year-on-year, lifting its market share to 32.79 pct, well up from the 30.81 pct its recorded in February 2006, and well above the psychological 30 pct threshold.

With 54,985 vehicles sold last month compared to 49,247 in February 2006, the Fiat brand (including LCV) climbed 11.65 pct year-on-year, raising its market share from 23.28 to 24.60 pct, meaning to accounted for almost one quarter of all vehicles registered in Italy during February. The Italian market arrival of the impressive new C-segment Bravo model is also giving the brand a new lift. Alfa Romeo was up 16.67 pct year-on-year after selling 7,341 cars last month as opposed to the 6,292 its shifted in the same period the year before. The "sporty" brand thus sees its domestic market share rise from 2.97 to 3.28 pct. After a recent sluggish run, including a negative performance in January, Lancia made very healthy gains last month, up 9.33 pct year-on-year as demand for the new Ypsilon range grows. 10,426 new cars last month compared to 9,536 during February 2006 means that Fiat's "luxury" brand sees its market share climb from 4.51 to 4.66 pct.
 

Of the specialist brands, Ferrari sold 46 of its sports cars last month, Maserati shifted 29 units, while Audi-owned Lamborghini managed 18 cars.

After the first two months of 2007, Fiat Group Automobiles has shifted 150,988 vehicles, up 8.67 pct year-on-year, building on the very bright start to the year it made last month. Total market share after two months now stands at 31.95 pct, compared to the 30.80 pct it achieved during January and February 2006 combined. The Fiat brand (including LCV) has now sold 115,168 vehicles, up 9.09 pct year-on-year to give it a 24.37 pct share of all sales this year. Alfa Romeo meanwhile has seen 15,076 of its cars registered this year, up 12.26 pct year-on-year, and it holds a 3.19 pct market share. Lancia has put a shrinking January performance firmly behind it and is now up 4.04 pct year-on-year. It has now sold 20,520 vehicles so far this year, and commands a 4.34 pct share of the overall market. Of the small brands, Ferrari sits on 128 units, Maserati 96 and Lamborghini 34.

The Punto (counting both the new Grande Punto and outgoing Punto models) continued its reign as Italy's best-selling car last month, accounting for 21,824 unit sales, firmly ahead of the second placed Panda (17,198). The Ford Focus and Fiesta were next up before the Lancia Ypsilon (7,023) rounded out Italian interest in the top ten. The Punto (46,368) sits astride of the best sellers for the year to date, again ahead of the Panda (35,304), while the Lancia Ypsilon is in sixth place (13,803).

The Punto (10,696) was also firmly on top of sales in the the diesel category last month, with the Panda placed fourth (4,570), the Alfa 147 eighth (3,107), and the Ypsilon ninth (2,764). After two months of the year 22,583 diesel Puntos have been sold, keeping it well in command of the oil-burning segment, the second-place Ford Fiesta has 15,311 unit sales. Italian interesting in the diesel category is bolstered by the Panda in fourth place (9,465) and the eighth placed Alfa 147 (5,943).