Data released today reveals that Fiat Group significantly outperformed the rapidly falling European new car market over the summer, and stemmed much of the sharp losses that have been felt by most of its major rivals.

Data released today reveals that Fiat Group significantly outperformed the rapidly falling European new car market over the summer months, stemming much of the sharp losses that have been felt by most of its major rivals, and allowing it to increase its market share.

Demand for new cars in Europe (EU27+EFTA) decreased by 7.3 pct in July and 15.6 pct in August, reflecting the general deterioration in consumer confidence and the effect of continuing high fuel prices. In addition, there were two working days less across the whole region. Over the first eight months of the year, new car registrations declined by 3.9 pct in Europe. In July, new passenger car registrations fell by 7.2 pct in Western Europe. Germany posted growth (+1.5 pct) and the French market remained stable (-0.2 pct). However, the Italian, the British and the Spanish markets dropped by 10.9 pct, 13.0 pct and 27.5 pct respectively. Of the four biggest markets in the new EU member states, only the Czech Republic registered more cars than in July last year (+12.0 pct). Romania saw its market contract by 33.0 pct, Hungary by 9.8 pct and Poland by 1.2 pct. Overall, new car registrations in the new EU member states decreased by 8.9 pct.

In August, new car registrations decreased by 16.5 pct in Western Europe, with only Portugal posting growth (+4.8 pct). Ireland (-41.6 pct) and Spain (-41.3 pct) registered the steepest downturn. Registrations fell by 26.4 pct in Italy, 18.6 pct in the UK, 10.4 pct in Germany and 7.1 pct in France. Demand for new cars in the new EU member states dropped by 8.7 pct. Registrations remained stable in the Czech Republic (+0.5 pct) and Poland (-0.9 pct) while declining by 23.3 pct in Hungary and by 9.0 pct in Romania. Over the first eight months of the year, there was a general decline in the number of new passenger cars registered in Europe (-3.9 pct). New registrations fell by 4.4 pct in Western Europe, with a decrease in Spain (-21.1 pct), Italy (-12.0 pct) and the UK (-3.8 pct) overshadowing growth in France (+2.9 pct) and Germany (+1.7 pct). Registrations were up 2.7 pct in the new EU member states, reflecting growth in Poland (+9.1 pct) and the Czech Republic (+8.2 pct) while Hungary (-4.9 pct) and Romania (-3.5 pct) were on a downward trend.

Against this difficult backdrop Fiat Group reported a very pleasing July, with 105,189 new registrations; and it lost just 0.7 pct year-on-year, as the overall market slid by 7.3 pct, with the Italian carmaker outperforming all its 'big six' rivals (VW, -4.7 pct; PSA, - 9.1 pct; Ford -8.2 pct; GM, -12.7 pct and Renault, -8.5 pct). Only BMW (+2.2 pct) did better, while the other major players were wrapped up with stiff downturns by Toyota (-12.9 pct) and Daimler (-5.1 pct). This served to raise Fiat Group's overall share of the European new car market from 7.8 to 8.4 pct. Of the brands, Fiat (including Fiat Professional and Abarth) saw its registrations rise by 2 pct to 83,513 units during July; Lancia (-0.2 pct) was virtually unchanged with 10,391 units; while Alfa Romeo (-19.5 pct) added a further 10,604 cars to its tally so far this year.

August produced a more mixed bag of results for Fiat Group; with 55,844 units registered during the month, meaning it lost 11.7 pct, although this was better than the overall market's 15.6 pct fall. In the process Fiat raised its share of all European registrations from 6.6 to 6.9 pct. The Fiat brand saw 45,042 units registered in August, and it kept its year-on-year fall down to 8.7 pct; however there were heavier declines for the specialist brands: Lancia, with 4,881 units, was down 17.3 pct, and Alfa Romeo, with 5,582 units, shed 27.6 pct.

After the first eight months of the year, Fiat Group has seen 840,788 registrations across Europe, down 2.8 pct year-on-year; and outperforming all its major rival except Renault and Daimler. It means that Italy's national carmaker raises its share of the European new car market so far this year from 8.0 to 8.1 pct year-on-year. The Fiat brand has driven this performance, with 685,819 units registered, it is up 2.3 pct; Lancia, with 80,122 units, is down 9.2 pct, and Alfa Romeo, with 69,894 units, has lost 32.1 pct year-on-year. The Fiat brand's market share so far this year is up 0.4 to 6.6 pct, Lancia is unchanged on 0.8 pct, and Alfa Romeo has lost 0.2 pct to sit on 0.7 pct.