Fiat Group Automobiles turned in another very strong sales performance in Italy last month, it was up 14.47 percent year-on-year, outperforming a resilient market that was itself up by nearly 10 percent. A strong boost came from the new Bravo model which helped to send Fiat brand sales up 18.13 pct, while Lancia also had an excellent month, up 16.20 pct. With Maserati making ground year-on-year, Alfa Romeo was the only weak Fiat portfolio brand, down by 14.06 percent. The data was revealed by trade body UNRAE.

The Italian car market saw 205,442 new vehicles sold in total last month, up 9.56 pct on last April's total registrations of 187,509 units. With sales of 66,348 vehicles Fiat was up by 14.47 percent year-on-year to take a 32.3 pct share of the total market, up from the 30.92 pct it achieved during the same period a year ago. With 51,772 vehicles (including the Fiat Professional division) the Fiat brand was up 18.13 pct year-on-year, raising its share of its domestic market from 25.20 to 23.37 pct. Lancia had a stunning month, with 9,262 registrations, up a massive 16.20 pct year-on-year, while Alfa Romeo slipped 14.06 pct after selling 5,222 cars. Lancia's share of the total Italian market last month was 4.25 pct while Alfa Romeo had 3.24 pct. Maserati sold 39 cars (up 5.41 pct) and Ferrari was unchanged on 53 units.

After the first four months of 2007, Fiat Group Automobiles has passed the 300,000 unit sales barrier for the year-to-date and has taken 31.95 pct of all vehicle sales in Italy this year. The Fiat brand (including Fiat Professional) accounts for 229,763 unit sales for YTD, up 10.82 pct on the first four months of 2006, while Lancia has sold 41,537 vehicles YTD and Alfa Romeo, 28,541. The Fiat brand has 23.25 pct of all sales in Italy YTD, while Lancia has 4.42 pct, and Alfa Romeo 3.04 pct.
 

The Fiat Grande Punto (including the outgoing Punto version) was Italy's best selling car as usual last month, with 19,595 sales. With its Italian volumes recently increased, the Fiat Panda had another excellent month, 14,945 units keeping it firmly in second place. The Lancia Ypsilon was fourth (5,940) while the new Bravo is making inroads into the top ten, and last month was up to sixth place (5,402). For the YTD the Punto is the market leader having racked up 90,996 sales, with the Panda second (70,975), and the Ypsilon sixth (26,690). With 9,505 sales the Punto was also the best selling diesel car in Italy last month.

The Panda was the leader in A-Segment (14,945) in April far ahead of the second-placed Fiat Seicento (3,412). While the Punto and Ypsilon were first and third in B-segment, the Lancia Musa crept into the top-ten in tenth place (3,100) with its sales last month up more than 50 pct year-on-year. The Bravo (5,394) was a close second to the Ford Focus (5,667) in C-segment with the Alfa 147 in 5th (2,177) and the Fiat Multipla seventh (1,861). In D-segment the BMW 3-series (2,787) just pipped the Alfa 159 (2,351) while the Fiat Croma was fourth (1,776). In the 'off road' segment the Fiat Sedici was second (1,184) while in the Coupé niche market the Alfa GT (252) beat its bigger sister, the Brera (140). In the large 'monovolume' category the Lancia Phedra (156) got the better of its twin, the Fiat Ulysse (130) and with 821 sales the Doblò easily topped the 'multispace' segment.