The data, released this morning by European automotive body ACEA covers the twenty seven members of the European Union (EU) plus the three members of the European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA). In fact the Fiat Group was the worst performer of any carmaker in Europe last month - large or small - except for the fading carcass of the Chrysler Group, in which the Italian firm ironically owns a 20 percent stake.

Fiat has hampered by the Italian market, where it is always over reliant, which is at present losing a lot of ground after the ending of state "eco" incentives in the spring and an artificially-distorted end to last year when there was a surge before the 'scrappage' scheme's cut-off. The Fiat Group is also suffering from its mix of ageing models, a lack of consumer favour for the mid-life facelifted Punto, the Punto Evo, and being unprepared for the arrival of Euro 5 regulations.

In November, demand for new passenger cars fell by 6.5 percent in Europe (EU27+EFTA), and amounted to 1,106,598 units. All major markets contracted, from 6.2 percent in Germany to -10.8 percent in France, -11.5 percent in the UK, -21.1 percent in Italy and -25.5 percent in Spain. The general downturn led to a 7.1 percent drop across the EU, compared to last year when the month of November recorded the largest increase (+27.1 percent) of 2009, rebounding from the previous 25.7 percent plunge in November 2008.

The Fiat Group sold 74,194 cars during November, which was twenty three thousand units less than the same month a year ago (97,301 in November 2009), to add up to a year-on-year fall of 23.7 percent and which contracted its market share from 8.2 to 6.7 percent year-on-year.

That result left Fiat Group languishing in sixth place amongst the carmaking groups in Europe and only 8,000 units for the month ahead of seventh placed BMW Group. As ever VW Group (-5.2 percent) was the big seller with PSA Peugeot-Citroën (-9.5 percent) in its usual second. Demonstrating just how far the Fiat Group has taken its eye off the ball over the last year or so, a historically time honoured trait for the Italian carmaker when times are good, Renault (-12.1 percent), which the Fiat Group had not so long ago overhauled, was the third best-selling group in Europe for November and was in fact more than forty thousand units ahead of the Fiat Group. Fourth place went to GM (+4.6 percent), the European arm of the American carmaker had been overhauled by the Fiat Group this time last year but last month it was almost twenty five thousand units ahead of the Italian firm. Ford (-14.7 percent) was the final carmaker to finish November ahead of Fiat Group: it had a cushion of ten thousand units.

Splitting up the Fiat Group Automobiles' (FGA) portfolio, the Fiat brand suffered again last month, 57,208 units registered during November compared to 78,640 during the same month a year ago was down 27.3 percent year-on-year, and resulted in a slide in its market share for the period from 6.6 to 5.2 percent year-on-year. Alfa Romeo however provided a much brighter note, its 10,023 units last month, driven by a strong reception for the new C-segment Giulietta, was up by a quarter (+25.6 percent) year-on-year and that allowed its European market share to climb by 0.2 percentage points year-on-year to 0.9 percent for November. FGA's other niche brand, Lancia, however went the other way: 6,619 units last month added up to a year-on-year fall of 35.6 percent and a year-on-year reduction in its market share by 0.3 percentage points to 0.6 percent for November. Of the Fiat Group's two performance/luxury brands, Ferrari and Maserati sold a combined total of 344 cars last month, down 14.0 percent year-on-year.

From January to November, a total of 12,736,102 new cars have been registered in Europe (EU27+EFTA), or 5.1 percent less than over the same period last year. From January to November, the UK (+3.4 percent) and Spain (+5.9 percent) have performed better than in the same period a year ago. France (-2.4 percent), Italy (-8.2 percent) and Germany (-25.2 percent) contributed to the overall 5.7 percent downturn across the region. The largest expansion was noted in Ireland (+54.0 percent).

With just one month of the year remaining the Fiat Group still hasn't breached the one million units sold barrier, it's now on 971,201 units for the year-to-date which leaves it two hundred thousand units adrift of the same period last year and down 16.9 percent year-on-year. That leaves it equally with Toyota (-16.9 percent) as the worst performer amongst the big carmaking groups in Europe for the eleven month period. Consequently the Fiat Group's market share for the year-to-date slides from 8.7 to 7.6 percent. The Fiat brand has 77,458 registrations for the year-to-date, down 18.5 percent, and that reduces its market share for the year-to-date, year-on-year by one percentage point to 6.1 percent. Alfa Romeo's timely boost from the Giulietta has narrowed its year-on-year fall to just 3.0 percent which also means it outperforms the overall market. For the year-to-date the 'sports' brand has sold 100,759 cars in Europe while its market share for the year-to-date taken year-on-year remains unchanged on 0.8 percent. Lancia has edged up to 92,886 units for the year-to-date which is down twenty thousand units and 17.5 percent year-on-year. It's market share for the year-to-date slips slightly from 0.8 to 0.7 percent year-on-year. The Fiat's Group's niche brands, Ferrari and Maserati, have a combined total of 6,098 units for the year-to-date which is up 0.3 percent year-on-year.