FCA European sales grew in the month of April to better the Industry Average.

FCA performed better than the European industry average once again in April. Industry sales were down 6.8% year-over-year, reflecting the number of public holidays falling during the month, while FCA posted a decrease of just 0.5% year-over-year. 

Group market share was up 50 basis points to 7.3%, making FCA fourth overall in the European sales rankings. The Alfa Romeo brand posted a particularly strong month with April sales up 52.2%, driven by the Giulia and Stelvio (already segment leader in Italy). 

The Fiat Panda and Fiat 500 continued to dominate the A segment with a combined 29.4% share. 

The Fiat 500L led its segment – with a 28.5% share – and the Fiat 500X and Jeep Renegade also ranked among the best-selling models in their respective segments. With another strong monthly performance, the Fiat Tipo also continued to climb the rankings in its segment.

In April, passenger car sales in Europe (EU28+EFTA) totaled just over 1,230,000 units, representing a 6.8% year-over-year decline.

FCA performed better than the European industry average for another consecutive month and ranked fourth overall with a total of 89,300 vehicles sold (substantially in line with the prior year). This was despite fewer selling days with several public holidays falling during the month. Group market share was up 50 basis points at 7.3%.

For the four months year-to-date, FCA sales totaled 392,400 vehicles, an increase of 10.8% compared with a European average of 4.5%. Group market share for the period was up 50 basis points year-over-year at 7.2%.

In April, FCA ran counter to the trend in Germany (+26.8% versus an industry average of -8.0%) and France (+5.0% versus an industry average of -6.0%), and outperformed in Spain (+6.1% versus an industry average of +1.2%).

Fiat posted European sales of 67,000 vehicles for the month, with market share 20 basis points higher at 5.4%.

Year-to-date, brand sales were up 10.4% to 296,800 vehicles. Market share for the period was 30 basis points higher at 5.4%.

Sales were up 3.9% in France, 8.0% in Spain and 24.5% in Germany.

The Panda and 500 continued as the two best-selling vehicles in the A segment with a combined share of nearly 30.0%. Year-to-date, sales of the Panda were up 1.0% to 74,600 units, while sales of the 500 were up 2.6% to nearly 70,200 units.

The Fiat Tipo posted another strong month, ranking as C-segment leader in Italy and among the best-sellers in Europe. Also performing well were the 500X (among the top 5 in its segment) and the 500L (continuing as leader in its segment with a 28.5% share).

Lancia/Chrysler posted April sales of more than 5,900 vehicles with share unchanged at 0.5%. For the year-to-date, brand sales were up 1.8% to nearly 27,500 units with share at 0.5%.

The ever-popular Ypsilon remained first in its segment in Italy with year-to-date sales up 2.0%.

Alfa Romeo posted an exceptional monthly performance with sales up 52.2% year-over-year to nearly 7,400 vehicles. Market share was 20 basis points higher at 0.6%.

Year-to-date, sales were up 38.7% to nearly 28,900 vehicles, with market share increasing to 0.5% (+10 basis points).

Sales were up 46.6% in Italy (+35.7% for the year-to-date), 162.7% in Germany (+94.5% year-to-date) and 55.4% in France (+22.4% year-to-date).

Driving this result were the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio. The Giulia is already among the D-segment leaders in Italy, with a 12.4% share, and climbing the rankings in other markets. The Stelvio is segment leader in Italy (11.8% share) with solid growth in markets across Europe.

Jeep posted April sales of more than 8,200 vehicles, and share was stable at 0.7%.

Year-to-date, brand sales totaled 35,400 vehicles (in line with 2016) and share was 0.6%.

April sales were particularly strong in Germany (+18.1%) and Spain (+10.1%).

The Renegade continued as one of the leaders in its segment with a 6.2% share in April. For the year-to-date, sales were up 7.8%.

For Maserati, the Group’s luxury brand, European sales totaled 754 vehicles in April and 3,840 for the year-to-date.

UK SALES MARCH - Fiat see's it's highest sales month Since September 2004, more models means more growth.

• Total FIAT 500 sales figure tops 257,794 at the end of March 2016
• 8,304 registrations in March - the FIAT 500’s third best monthly total since it was first launched in December 2007
• The success of the FIAT 500 has helped FIAT UK achieve its best monthly total in almost 12 years
• With new versions, including the FIAT 500S, joining the range in 2016 the next sales milestone is just around the corner

The UK’s love for the FIAT 500 is as strong as ever, with registrations having just topped the quarter-million milestone on the back of one of its best ever sales months. 

At the end of March 2016 a grand total of 257,794 FIAT 500 registrations had been achieved, with 8,304 new FIAT 500s registered in March of this year alone - it’s third best monthly tally since the first cars hit UK streets in December 2007.

The FIAT 500’s outstanding sales performance in March helped FIAT achieve its best monthly sales total in almost 12 years with a total of 13,190 registrations in March 2016, an increase of 10.62% compared to March of last year. These were the strongest monthly figures it has posted since September 2004, when FIAT sold 13,668 vehicles.

The FIAT 500 was refreshed in the autumn of 2015 and its new infotainment technologies, increased personalisation options, improved refinement and subtly enhanced styling have combined to help the iconic city car consolidate its position as segment leader. With the addition of the 1.3 MultiJet II diesel, Eco version of the popular 1.2-litre engine and sporty new FIAT 500S all coming on stream in 2016, the FIAT 500 should continue to be the UK’s favourite city car for the foreseeable future.

Sebastiano Fedrigo, Country Manager FIAT UK, commented, “The FIAT 500 has always been a popular choice with UK buyers but the figure of almost 258,000 registrations demonstrates just how unique and desirable our iconic city car has remained since it was launched. 

Our designers and engineers have worked hard to keep the car fresh and exciting in terms of engines, technologies, colours, personalisation options and styling while respecting the basic elements that have always made the car so appealing to a broad spectrum of buyers looking for a high-quality, affordable and utterly chic city car. With more improvements on the way soon, we’re looking forward the amazing FIAT 500 reaching its next sales milestone in the not-too-distant future.”

The FIAT 500 range starts at £11,050 OTR.

UK SALES 2015 - Abarth continues to push high sales with special editions and great looking models.

Abarth’s remarkable growth in the UK is illustrated in this week’s new car registrations figures, which show big sales increases for both December and 2015 as a whole.

In a strong final month of 2015, the performance car brand sold 177 cars – up 40.5 per cent on the 126 sold in the same period the previous year, according to figures supplied by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). December was the 23^rd consecutive month of growth for Abarth.

For 2015, Abarth’s 2743 sales signified its best-ever year in the UK, finishing 67.0 per cent up against 2014 (1642), and making Abarth one of the top five fastest-growing car brands in the UK.

“We are once again delighted with the progress Abarth is making in the UK market,” says Gerry Southerington, brand manager, Abarth UK. “We spent the whole of 2015 building on Abarth’s success and had our best month ever in September when we sold more than 700 cars.

“We have also been increasing the number of Abarth dealers in the UK, which will further help us to improve the service we can offer to our growing number of customers.”

SPAIN - FIAT and JEEP shows significant growth in Spain during October, with Jeep up 272%, FIAT up 26.1%

Translated by Google - Apologies for any errors caused.

• Fiat increases its cumulative growth to 26.1% from January to October.
• Jeep exceeds 4,000 units throughout the year and recorded a growth of 272%, the highest in the Spanish passenger car market

FCA Group registrations in Spain continue to accumulate a positive growth trend. While the passenger car market registered to October 2015 increased by 20.5% over the same period last year (863,973 units accumulated confirms that one million units will be reached at the end of the year), both Fiat and Jeep kept growth levels well above the national average.

The arrival of the new Fiat 500 and the resounding success of the last to arrive at the range, the Fiat 500X, have allowed the general data of the brand in October again be not only positive, but maintain a growth value Annual of 26.1% with a total of 32,799 units.

Meanwhile, Jeep continues to be the fastest growing brand in 2015 throughout the Spanish market. In October, Jeep registrations increased 136.7% over the same month in 2014. While in the full year, from January to October 31, the growth of the brand is a spectacular 272% to over 4,000 units and setting a leadership that is maintained for more than 14 months and where the launch of Jeep Renegade has been key with a total of 2,650 units registered since the beginning of the year.

* Data ANFAC

UK SALES SEPTEMBER - ABARTH - The sporty arm of FIAT continues to out perform the market, +113%

Abarth’s continued growth in the UK is illustrated in this weeks new car registrations figures, which show the best September, and the best month ever, in the UK for the performance car brand.

In a fantastic September, Abarth sold 706 cars – up 113 per cent on the 331 sold in the same period last year. Year-to-date, the brand’s 2029 units was 57.8 per cent up on YTD 2014 (1286), and more than the total sales for last year (1642) and, indeed, any previous year.

Market share rose to 0.15 per cent for September 2015, up from last September’s 0.08 per cent, according to figures supplied by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

“We are delighted with this latest result,” says Gerry Southerington, Abarth Brand Manager. “People might look at these figures and say it’s because we have recently increased the number of Abarth dealers in the UK, but that’s not the whole story.

“Sales figures for our existing dealers from last year are up 35 per cent for September and 18 per cent year-to-date. So, even though we have appointed new dealers the important figures have come from our existing network.

“I now look forward to continued growth, which I am sure will come as we announce some exciting new products in the coming months.”

Brazilian slump causes FIAT to halt production to ease very high stock levels.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will halt production at a plant in Brazil from today through Monday due to lower demand for cars and high stock levels. The nearly 16,000 workers at the plant in Betim, Minas Gerais, will be on paid leave.

A Fiat representative said it had previously announced paid leave from Friday through Sunday due to the Easter holiday, and had added days because of elevated supplies.

The representative declined to comment on stocks at the plant but union president Joao Alves de Almeida said the factory was manufacturing some 2,000 cars a day, down from peaks of 3,400 a few years ago, and had enough cars stocked for 40 sales days.

"This isn't good news -- it creates a climate of apprehension between the workers who are concerned about their future and maintaining their jobs," Almeida said.

On Monday another union said Volkswagen had furloughed 4,200 workers at its second-largest factory in Brazil for three weeks.

Many automakers are working to cut costs in Brazil, where sales and output are down more than 20 percent in the first two months. Jobs in the auto industry have fallen 8 percent in the 12 months through February.

REPORT HERE

FIAT launches two spring special deals for Punto and Panda.

• FIAT Spring Sales Event offers £2,235 in customer savings on the new FIAT Punto Pop+ and £1,450 on FIAT Panda 1.2 Pop
• With an additional deposit contribution of £1,400 on the FIAT Panda 1.2 Pop, FIAT i-Deal PCP customers pay a deposit of just £109 with low monthy payments of £109 (6.9% APR Representative)
• Customers can drive away a FIAT Punto 1.2 Pop+ with a deposit of £999 and monthly payments of just £139 (7.2% APR)
• FIAT Punto 1.2 Pop+ includes additional standard equipment such as air conditioning, alloy wheels and Bluetooth

FIAT has announced some tempting spring deals for customers seeking to get behind the wheel of the FIAT Panda and FIAT Punto – but only until March 31 2015.

Customers can drive away in a brand new FIAT Panda 1.2 Pop with a low deposit of only £109 and monthly payments of just £109 per month (6.9% APR Representative), thanks to a generous £1,400 deposit contribution and additional customer savings of £1,450. At the end of the 48-month PCP arrangement, customers have the option of purchasing their Panda outright for just £2,148.

The new FIAT Punto 1.2 Pop+ not only offers customer savings of up to £2,235, it also comes with additional equipment such as air conditioning, integrated Bluetooth with steering wheel remote controls and 15-inch alloy wheels all as standard. With a deposit of just £999, customers can drive away in a new FIAT Punto 1.2 Pop+ for just £139 per month (7.2% APR Representative) and at the end of the 48-month agreement they can opt to keep their Punto with an optional final payment of £2,363.

These offers are available in participating FIAT dealerships across the UK now and will run until March 31, 2015 or until stocks last.

FIAT's ever aging Punto clings onto life with another special edition, the Jet Black 2.

• New limited-edition FIAT Punto Jet Black 2 features distinctive looks, 17-inch alloy wheels and sports suspension
• Interior refinements include climate control, cruise control and Blue&Me™ connectivity as standard
• Powered by a 77hp 1.4-litre petrol engine, the FIAT Punto Jet Black 2 is priced from just £12,000 O.T.R.

The new, limited-edition FIAT Punto Jet Black 2 has gone on sale in the UK featuring distinctive looks and a high level of standard specification at a very affordable price of £12,000 OTR.

Available as a three-door only, the FIAT Punto Jet Black 2 is finished in Crossover Black metallic paint and is equipped with dark tinted rear privacy glass and smoked, 12-spoke, 17-inch alloy wheels as standard. Body-coloured side skirts and a matching rear spoiler; sports suspension; front fog lights; special side stripes and a tailgate logo complete the bespoke look.

The interior also benefits from additional features including a leather steering wheel and gear knob; automatic climate control and cruise control, while standard safety features include rear parking sensors; adaptive cornering fog lights; five airbags and voice-controlled, Blue&Me™ Bluetooth multimedia connectivity.  

Powered by a 77hp 1.4-litre petrol engine fitted with Start&Stop as standard, the Punto Jet Black 2 combines ample performance with low running costs and to make it even more tempting, the FIAT Punto Jet Black 2 is also available with a variety of finance packages, including a zero-percent APR, £99 per month (over 37 months) PCP offer with a deposit or trade-in of £4,499 or with a deposit of just £187 and 48 payments of £187. In the case of both offers, exclusions, terms and conditions apply and there is an optional final repayment.

The FIAT Punto Jet Black 2 is in dealers now. Visit www.fiat.co.uk for more details.

FIAT makes buying a Panda or Punto with PCP even more complicated, why not just sell it properly DUH !

• The FIAT ‘Say No’ sales event commences today, March 10, and runs for two weeks until March 24
• FIAT Panda and Punto customers can ‘Say No’ to a deposit and to the first three monthly repayments* – FIAT has it covered!
• New customer savings and PCP repayment holiday represent an additional £500 saving for a total of £1,950 savings (Panda 1.2 Pop) and £2,455 (Punto 1.2 Pop)*
• Alternatively, the customer savings can be put towards lowering monthly PCP repayments even further!

FIAT customers are being offered the opportunity to say ‘No’ to a deposit and ‘No’ to the first three monthly PCP repayments, so all they have to do is sign and drive off in a new FIAT Panda or FIAT Punto complete with its new “14” registration number.*

For a strictly limited period of two weeks, from March 10 to March 24, FIAT is introducing a new customer saving and three-month PCP repayment holiday which results in an extra £500 saving to buyers of a new FIAT Panda or FIAT Punto. In the case of FIAT Panda 1.2 Pop, for example, this initiative is in addition to the £1,450 savings already on offer, resulting in a total saving to the customer of £1,950. The remaining 44 repayments would be just £107.26 (Representative 3.8% APR) with an optional final repayment £3,062 due in March 2018.  The FIAT Punto 1.2 Pop now offers total savings amounting to £2,455 with monthly repayments of just £129.33 (Representative 4.2% APR) plus an optional final repayment.

Alternatively, customers also have the option of foregoing the deposit contribution and repayment holiday and instead using the £500 FIAT contribution towards their monthly repayments, resulting in a deposit of just £98 and 47 repayments of £98 for the FIAT Panda 1.2 Pop (plus optional final repayment) or a £118 deposit and 47 monthly repayments of £118 for the FIAT Punto 1.2 Pop (plus optional final repayment).

The FIAT ‘Say No’ sales event commences today (March 10) and runs until March 24, 2014 and is open to all retail customers subject to certain terms and conditions*. The offer isn’t limited to the examples given – other versions of the Panda and Punto are available as part of the ‘Say No’ FIAT initiative as well.

Kate McLaren, Senior Brand Manager FIAT UK, commented, “We believe that being able to put a brand new fully-warrantied FIAT Panda or Punto on the driveway, without having to stump up a deposit and with very affordable monthly repayments, offers customers huge peace-of-mind at a time when household budgets are stretched and keeping an older vehicle in safe and roadworthy condition can be a real challenge.The payment holiday also offers a welcome break from monthly payments and frees up those funds to be used elsewhere.”

The five-door FIAT Panda is the second-best selling car in its segment in Europe, behind the FIAT 500, and is a practical, efficient and stylish city car. The FIAT Punto offers even more space and comfort, as well as the option of a sporty three-door hatchback, while retaining the efficiency and affordable stylishness that FIAT is synonymous with.