Fiat Group Automobiles turned in another positive month of new sales in Italy during May, outperforming the overall market as all three of its mass brands were firmly in positive territory, according to data revealed by motor industry body UNRAE. With 245,347 new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles being sold during May, the Italian maker recorded yet another strong month, up 7.31 percent year-on-year on the 228,637 units sold during May 2006.

Fiat Group Automobiles outperformed the overall market, it was up by 8.35 pct year-on-year after 75,980 new vehicles were sold last month compared to the 70,123 it shifted during the same period last year. This raised its market share year-on-year from 30.67 to 30.97 pct.

Splitting the Fiat portfolio up, the Fiat brand (including LCV) was up 9.57 pct with 57,796 new vehicles registered last month compared to 52,770 in May 2006, raising its share of the domestic market share year-on-year from 23.08 to 23.56 pct. Alfa Romeo was up 6.78 pct, although it underperformed the overall market, with 8.018 units last month as opposed to 7,509 in the same period a year ago. Lancia wrapped up a rosy picture for the three main brands, although it to didn't rise as fast as the total market, however it was was up 3.27 pct with 10,019 units compared to the 9,702 sales it achieved last May. Alfa Romeo's share of the market was almost unchanged at 3.27 pct, as opposed to 3.28 pct in May 2006; while Lancia dipped slightly, taking a 4.08 pct share compared to the 4.24 pct it achieved in May 2006.

After five months of this year, the Fiat Group has now sold 376,743 new vehicles in Italy, up 9.45 pct year-on-year; the Turin-based carmaker sold 344,236 new vehicles between January and May of last year. It's total share of the market for the year-to-date climbed exactly a percentage point to 31.73 pct. The Fiat brand has sold 288,021 units for the YTD, and is up 10.03 pct year-on-year, Lancia accounts for 51,587 YTD and is up 6.37 pct, while Alfa Romeo has seen 36,527 of its 'sporty' cars registered YTD and is up 4.2 pct.
 

The Fiat brand has a 24.25 pct share of Italian new registrations so far this year, Lancia has 4.34 pct while Alfa Romeo holds 3.08 pct.

With 17,791 sales last month the Fiat Panda dominated A-segment sales in Italy up nearly 4,000 units on the same period last year. With 20,956 sales last month the Fiat Grande Punto (including the Punto model) is Italy's best selling car and controls B-segment. For the YTD the Punto accounts for 112,213 unit sales, slightly down on the 117,180 units it sold during the first five months of 2006. Third best seller in B-segment during May was the Lancia Ypsilon (7,065 units) and it has now sold 33,775 units so far this year, up on the 32,988 it accounted for during the same period last year. In C-segment the new Bravo shifted 5,735 units, putting it second to the Ford Focus (7,216) and bring its total Italian sales up to 15,288 units. The Alfa 147 (2,917) was the fifth best seller in C-segment.

The Alfa 159 moved to the top of D-segment last month with 4,061 registrations compared to 3,039 it achieved during the same month last year. It comfortably outperformed its rivals, VW Passat (3,044), BMW 3-series (2,777), Fiat Croma (2,077) and Audi A4 (1,696). The Alfa 159 has now accounted for 15,922 unit sales for the YTD, well up from the 12,152 units it achieved during the first five months of 2006. It also puts it on top of D-segment for the YTD as the BMW 3-series (15,561), Passat (12,583) and Croma (10,033) have all racked up less registrations. In the Cabrio segment the Alfa Spider accounted for 240 unit sales; in the Coupé segment the Alfa GT (489) and Brera (172) represented the Milanese brand; while in F-segment the Maserati Quattroporte sold 57 units last month (218 YTD) while the Ferrari F430 is on 42 (227 YTD).