Boosted by a strong month's sales in its home market, Fiat Group Automobiles was the best performer amongst the 'big nine' European carmaking groups last month, turning in an 8 pct year-on-year rise in registrations against an overall market which was down by 0.6 pct, according to data released this morning by motor industry trade body ACEA.

With 1,291,634 passenger and light commercial vehicles sales across Europe last month (counting all the EU members plus the three EFTA signatories) the total market slipped 0.6 pct (from 1,298,884 in April 2006). Fiat's domestic market, Italy, was the big winner though, 205,442 registrations putting it up 9.6 pct year-on-year. Europe's biggest new car market, Germany didn't fare so well, down 7.0 pct (264,871 units) while the other major new car markets were also mixed, France was down 5.0 pct (172,621), the UK was up 4.3 pct (170,163) while Spain shed 6.0 pct (121,721).

Fiat Group Automobiles was the best performer amongst the big players in Europe as it turned in an impressive 8.0 pct year-on-year rise in new registrations during April. Europe's biggest carmaker, the VW Group, lost 0.2 pct year-on-year last month, then came Peugeot (+1.5 pct) and Ford (+2.4 pct) in second and third, while GM (-4.7 pct) and Renault (-10.5 pct) next up respectively, both recorded steep losses of market share. Below Fiat last month came Toyota (+1.2 pct), DaimlerChrysler (-4.6 pct) and BMW (+2.6 pct).
 

The 106,110 registrations turned in by Fiat across Europe in April was up 8.0 pct year-on-year (98,221 units in April 2006). The Group's overall European market share climbed from 7.6 to 8.2 pct. Splitting the brands up, Fiat (including LCV) saw 84,003 units registered last month, up 10.7 pct year-on-year, Lancia with 10,866 units was up 15.5 pct, while Alfa Romeo - affected by actions in Italy - was down 13.3 pct (10,820 units). Year-on-year the Fiat brand's overall European market share climbs from 5.8 to 6.5 pct, Lancia is up from 0.7 to 0.8 pct while Alfa Romeo contracts from 1.0 to 0.8 pct.

After the first four months of 2007, Fiat Group has sold 456,994 vehicles, up 6.8 pct on the 427,978 it shifted during the same period last year. It's European market share for the year-to-date is up from 7.7 to 8.3 pct. Of the individual brands YTD, Fiat, with 352,999 registrations, is up 7.3 pct year-on-year, Lancia (48,498 units) is up 8.1 pct and Alfa Romeo (53,563) is up 2.1 pct. The Fiat brand's European market share for YTD is up from 5.9 to 6.4 pct year-on-year, while Lancia stands on 0.9 pct and Alfa Romeo at 1.0 pct.