italiaspeed.com

There is simply no respite for the Fiat brand across Europe this year and in November that bleak picture continued in the UK as sales tanked by more than a half year-on-year although Alfa Romeo provided some better news its sales climb by a quarter, according to data released by SMMT.

Fiat's dismal November sales performance in the UK was nearly five times worse than the overall market which shed 11.52 percent year-on-year to 139,875 units, and fell for a fifth consecutive month. However if scrappage registrations placedlast November are stripped out the market is actually up by 14 percent year-on-year.

Fiat shifted 2,848 cars in the UK last month and compared to 6,014 units sold during the same month a year ago it equated to slump of 52.64 percent. The ending of government "eco" subsidies, a lack of preparation for Euro 5 legislation, a lukewarm reception for the midlife facelift of the key B-segment Punto and an ageing model range have all been key factors contributing to consumers shunning Fiat's showrooms not only in the UK but on markets right across Europe. Fiat's UK market share for the month just gone correspondingly slid from 3.80 to 2.04 percent year-on-year.

Alfa Romeo however was boosted by the new Giulietta which after an August debut is on stream and the C-segment hatchback drove it to 808 units in November and when compared to 640 unit sales during the same month a year ago that added up to a year-on-year rise of 26.25 percent. Alfas Romeo's share of all UK sales for the month thus rose from 0.40 to 0.58 percent year-on-year. Abarth however headed south again: 109 units last month compared to 137 units during November 2009 was down 20.44 percent. The scorpion's share of the UK market for the month just gone was 0.08 percent.

With one month of the year left to go the UK market is closing in on two million registrations and is up 3.41 percent year-on-year. Fiat Automobiles has 50,254 sales so far this year, down four and a half thousand units and 8.43 percent on the first eleven months of last year. Fiat's market share for the year-to-date slips from 2.98 to 2.64 percent year-on-year.

Alfa Romeo has 7,757 registrations for the year-to-date in the UK and when compared to 8,468 units for the same period last year it has lost 8.40 percent year-on-year. Alfa Romeos UK market share thus slides from 0.46 to 0.41 percent year-on-year for the year-to-date. With one month of the year remaining Abarth has 1,338 registrations in the UK, and when compared to 1,268 units for the same period last year it is up 5.52 percent.

Chrysler Group, 20 percent owned by Fiat Group, continues its vanishing act the UK. The Chrysler brand, which the U.S. carmaker hopes to retain on this market, added 35 units last month, down 79.17 percent year-on-year. Dodge which has been steadily wound down in the UK saw 10 registrations in November, down 94.95 percent year-on-year while Jeep's 174 units was down 9.38 percent. For the year-to-date the Chrysler brand has 1,301 registrations (-47.94 percent), dodge is on 766 units (-68.71 percent) and Jeep is on 1,892 units (-13.41 percent).

Registrations are also expected to fall in December, according to SMMT, but earlier growth in the first half of the year should ensure a net gain of around 2 percent to some 2.03 million units. The market is forecast to fall by some 5 percent in 2011 to 1.93 million units, due to the impact of the austerity measures and notably the expected squeeze on consumer spending.

“New car registrations fell by less than expected in November with demand from the fleet sector helping to offset the market rebalancing following the end of the Scrappage Incentive Scheme," said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. “Registrations are expected to fall next month, but demand may benefit from motorists looking to avoid the January VAT rise. This factor, coupled with the strength of the first half of 2010, means year-end volumes are expected to lift to over 2.03 million units, 2 percent up from last year. Next year will continue to be challenging as consumer spending tightens and government’s austerity measures take effect.”