03.11.2007 FIAT 500 MAKES ITS MARK DURING MIXED OCTOBER FOR FIAT IN ITALY

FIAT 500

The big new winner in Italy was the new Fiat 500 (seen above at this week's MPH07 Motor Show in London) which moved up to third place overall with 8,648 sales last month.

Fiat Group Automobiles had a mixed month of sales in Italy during October, with the Fiat-brand making gains of 11.49 pct year-on-year, although Lancia and Alfa Romeo both lost ground. With 205,317 new vehicles registered during October the Italian new car market was up by 8.5 pct on the same period last year, according to data unveiled by Italian motor trade body UNRAE.

With 63,205 new registrations last month compared to 59,029 during October 2006, Fiat Group Automobiles was up 7.05 pct year-on-year. However with the total market climbing 8.5 pct, Fiat's overall share slipped slightly to 30.79 pct from 31.21 pct during the equivalent month last year.

The Fiat Brand (including the Fiat Professional light commercial division) was the best performer with 50,378 units registered last month compared to 45,185 during October 2006, a year-on-year rise of 11.49 pct. Lancia dropped 4.05 pct after recording 7,576 sales last month compared to the 7,896 it turned in during the same period of last year, while Alfa Romeo also lost ground, it shed 12.40 pct after turning in sales of 5,128 cars last month as opposed to 5,854 for October 2006. This meant that the Fiat brand took an increased share of the total Italian new car market last month, 24.54 pct, up from the 23.88 pct it grabbed the previous year, Lancia however saw its market share contracting from 4.17 to 3.69 pct while Alfa Romeo shrank from 3.09 to 2.5 pct.

For the year to date Fiat Group Automobiles has seen 669,322 vehicle registration in Italy, up 9.19 pct year-on-year to give it a 31.42 pct share YTD, compared to 30.77 pct for the first ten months of 2006. Lancia has shifted 90,597 vehicles so far this year, up 6.09 pct year-on-year, while Alfa Romeo has 63,376 registrations YTD, and is up 2.63 pct year-on-year. For YTD the Fiat brand has a 24.13 pct cut of all Italian registrations, Lancia has 4.25 pct, and Alfa Romeo 2.97 pct.

The Punto (including Grande Punto and the outgoing Punto model) was - as usual - right at the top of the best-seller list in Italy last month with 18,186 unit sales, putting it on a healthy 192,336 for YTD. The Panda was in second place in the 'Top 10' with 11,386 (147,713 YTD) while the big new winner was the new 500 which moved up to third place with 8,648 sales last month. The other Fiat Group Automobiles' model to make the top ten was the seventh-placed Lancia Ypsilon, with 5,297 unit sales (59,497 YTD). The Punto was also Italy's best-selling diesel during October with 9,652 oil-burning units shifted.

While the Panda and 500 were at the top of A -segment, and the Punto/Grande Punto was dominant in B-segment, the Bravo shifted 3,669 units in C-segment (34,739 YTD) to put it second and the Alfa 147 accounted for 2,632 sales in the same category. In D-segment the Alfa 159 (2,052) was second in October, while in F-segment a new face made its first appearance as 45 Maserati GranTurismo sports cars were delivered. In their respective segments, the Lancia Musa and Fiat Doblò both continued their impressive runs at the top.
 

© 2007 Interfuture Media/Italiaspeed