Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) continued its dismal start to the year during February in the U.K. as its key volume selling Fiat brand lost ground, as did Alfa Romeo, however there was black ink on the page as Abarth provided a brighter spot.
In total 80,805 new cars were sold in the UK during February, a year-on-year fall of 2.8% as this market extended its long decline. This month is traditionally one of the quietest of the year ahead of the March number plate change.
Continuing recent trends, demand for petrol and alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) rose in February, they were up 14.4% and 7.2% respectively, with the former driven by some new, smaller models coming to market. Registrations of new diesel cars declined however declined by 23.5%.
The Fiat brand added 1,306 sales during February and when compared to 1,426 sales during the same month last year that represented a fall of 8.42% and as a result its share of total market sales slipped very slightly, by 0.1% to 1.62%.
Amongst FCA’s niche brands Abarth ended February in black ink as it added 141 sales, up 11 units and 8.46% year-on-year, and its market share came in at 0.17% for the month.
Alfa Romeo extended its losing streak this year as it fell 19 units and 9.69% to 177 units sold during February. It’s share of the market for the month just gone was 0.22%.
Maserati also saw some black ink as it stemmed a poor January and its 50 sales last month was up 4 units when compared to its sales during February last year. Finally, last month Jeep’s sales fell by a quarter year-on-year to 171 units.
After the first two months of the year a total of 244,420 cars have been sold in the UK, which is down 5.1% on the same period last year.
FCA’s volume driver, Fiat, has had a terrible start to the year, its sales slumping by over one-third to put it amongst the worst laggards for the year-to-date. It’s 3,020 sales during January and February combined is one thousand six hundred units down on the same period last year and equated to a sales fall of 35.01%. As a result, its share of the total market over the first two months is down from 1.8% to 1.24% year-on-year.
The niche brands have had a mixed time of it so far this year. Alfa Romeo extended its losing streak through February despite having the new Giulia and Stelvio in the showrooms and the 454 units shifted so far this year is down 26 units and 5.42% year-on-year. With the overall market’s decline mirroring Alfa Romeo’s own contraction was able to retain its market share unchanged year-on-year, coming in at 0.19%. Certainly with its current model portfolio Alfa Romeo will be looking to raise its game in the UK very quickly and start to make strong market share gains.
Abarth continues its promising start to the year, the Scorpion brand's now on 420 sales after the opening two months of the year, up 67 units and 18.98% year-on-year for the period.
Maserati has sold 160 units so far this year and is down 24.17% year-on-year for the first two months. Finally, Jeep is down 57.49% for the year-to-date after shifting 406 units during January and February.
