For the second consecutive year Fiat Automóveis has been chosen as the best company in the automotive sector in Brazil, according to Exame magazine, the most important financial and business magazine of the country.

The award Melhores e Maiores 2007 (better and larger in 2007) is a yearly prize that ranks Brazilian companies by sectors of a jury consisting of market financial analysts and specialised journalists. The prestigious award was presented to the CEO of Fiat Automóveis Mr. Cledorvino Belini during a ceremony that counted on the presence of the Brazilian Minister of Finance, Mr. Guido Mantega.

Mr. Belini said in his acceptance speech that the company knew how to improve and make the most of the opportunities being generated by the upward moment of the Brazilian economy, and to grow in a superior manner compared to the average of the market. "Like all the important achievements of our company, this prize is also the result of the accomplishment of everyone that works at Fiat, the other companies that work with us, and by the net of car agents, each one with their contribution, gives to Fiat’s products the best level of satisfaction among our clients," declared Mr. Bellini. This is actually the sixth time that Fiat Automóveis has received this prize.
 

The economical and financial results of more than 3,500 companies are analysed with the support of Fundação Instituto de Pesquisas Contábeis, Atuariais e Financeiras (Fipecafi) an institution that is part of the most important university in Brazil, USP (Universidade de São Paulo). The rankings takes into consideration factors such as growth of sales, net profit, margin of sales, investments, market leadership, average liquidity, profitability and productivity. The consideration of these indicators combined gave Fiat the best result amongst all companies in the Brazilian automotive sector.

Exame magazine emphasised that Fiat Automóveis is the largest operation belonging to the Fiat Group outside of Italy, and the fact that Brazilian subsidiary had an important role to play in the worldwide recovery of the Italian group.

by Claudio Perlini