Last month Fiat Automóveis recorded its largest volumes of sales and production of cars since the beginning of its operations in Brazil in 1976; and this record helps to enlarge its outright leadership of the brand on the Brazilian market.

Fiat claimed 26.8 percent of the overall sales in automobiles and light commercial vehicles during May, and has increased its gap to the second best selling brand in the market so far this year to 18,400 units.

According to Renavam (the government institution responsible for the registering of vehicles) and published by Anfavea (the association of automotive brands in Brazil) a total of 53,701 vehicles were sold last month by Fiat, and from January to May the total is now 214,064 units which represents the biggest volume reached by the brand since the beginning of its operations began in Brazil. The figure represents a very strong growth of 30.1 percent compared to the same period of 2006, and also consolidates Fiat Automóveis in the top spot in the Brazilian market with 25.5 percent of the overall sales in automobiles and light commercial vehicles.

"That result is a combination of several positive factors: the enlargement of our range and quality of our products; the increasing of production to fulfil the customers' demands; the improvements achieved by our network of car dealers in terms of customer’s satisfaction in relation to the services offered and also, the prosperous economical conjuncture that Brazil is entering into now with a decline in the interest rates allowing an  increase in credit offers,” affirmed the Commercial Director of Fiat in Brazil Lélio Ramos.
 

Fiat’s total production (counting vehicles sold on the Brazilian market and exported) reached 63,048 units, 18.2 pct up on April and a 22.4 pct up compared to 2006. From January to May production has reached 273,263 automobiles and light commercial vehicles, a 25.6 pct growth in relation to the same period of last year.

The sales figures achieved by Fiat Automóveis makes evident the great success of its products among the customers. The Fiat Palio, boosted by a fresh new design which was recently introduced, has sold 80,681 units so far this year, a growth of 57.3 pct compared to the first five months of 2006. The Fiat Siena has sold 30,637 units, an impressive 86.8 pct growth over the same period of 2006, and Fiat Strada pick-up, the absolute leader in its segment, reached a total of 23,539 units sold so far this year and it also achieved a 51.9 pct year-on-year growth. 

The export market did not register the same positive results observed in the internal market, the 6,998 vehicles exported in May represented a fall of 28.5 pct in relation to April, but despite this the overall volumes exported so far this year show a growth of 9.7 pct compared to the same period of 2006,  which adds up to a total volume of 42,724 units being exported.

by Claudio Perlini