Fiat Group plans to boost its sales in Germany following a return to profitability last year of its German operations, which includes the Fiat, Fiat Professional, Lancia and Alfa Romeo brands.

Fiat Group plans to boost its sales in Germany following a return to profitability last year of its German operations, which includes the Fiat, Fiat Professional, Lancia and Alfa Romeo brands.

"We plan to do better this year than in 2007," Fiat Germany head Manfred Kantner said in an interview with motoring magazine Automobilwoche which was published yesterday (Tuesday). Germany is Europe's biggest and most important new vehicle market.

After incurring a loss in 2006, the Italian carmaker turned this position around and achieved profits of 15.3 million euros (23.7 million dollars) from its German operation last year.

Kantner predicted the company would sell more than 130,000 cars and trucks this year, with the new Fiat 500 contributing 15,000 units, up from 2,200 last year following its mid year launch.

According to the report, Fiat Germany increased its turnover last year by 7.4 per cent to 1.7 billion euros, with a particularly strong showing from the commercial vehicle sector, while car deliveries to its dealers declined. Fiat Germany is bouncing back after suffering operating losses of 12.2 million euros in 2005 and 8.6 million in 2006.