Fiat Chrysler reports a year-over-year 6% sales increase in Europe

(October 17, 2014) LONDON — Led by Jeep with a 61% sales increase, Lancia at 13.2& and Fiat and Fiat at 4.2% Fiat Chrysler Automobiles posted an increase in September with sales up 6% to nearly 69,000 vehicles and market share in line with the same period in 2013 at 5.4%.

The Group achieved sales gains in all major European markets, with Italy up 4.7%, Germany 8.7%, France 2.9%, the UK 4.7% and Spain 27.9%. The Fiat 500 and Panda were once again the two top-selling vehicles in the European A segment, with a combined share of 28.7% for the year to date

The European auto market continued its upward trend in September with new passenger car registrations up 6.1% to nearly 1,270,000. For the nine months year-to-date, registrations were up 5.8% to 9,907,000.

For the year to date, Fiat Chrysler sales totaled more than 588,000 vehicles (+2.6% year-over-year) and market share was 20 basis points lower at 5.9%. The Fiat brand posted September sales of nearly 53,000 vehicles, up 4.2% year-over-year, with market share at 4.1%.

For the year to date, brand sales totaled nearly 455,000 vehicles (+2.2% year-over-year) and market share was 4.6% (-20 bps).

The brand registered September sales increases in each of the five major European markets. In Spain, where the overall market was up 26%, Fiat brand sales were up 34.2% over September 2013. Sales were also up 4.4% in Germany, 3.2% in France and 4.5% in the UK.

The 500 and Panda were once again the two most popular cars in the European A segment with combined shares of 25.9% in September and 28.7% for the year to date. In the UK, the 500 achieved an all-time record with more than 9,000 units sold.

The 500L registered a 17.8% European segment share in September and a 22.3% share for the nine months year to date. Combined sales for the 500 family were up 15.1% year-over-year for the month of September and 22.1% for the year to date.

The 500 led the European A segment in September followed by the Panda which, with more than 12,000 vehicles sold, accounted for nearly 10% of segment sales. The new Cross version proved popular with customers during the open door weekend held on 27-28 September.

Lancia/Chrysler posted September sales of nearly 6,800 vehicles, up 13.2%, and market share was in line with the prior year at 0.5%. Brand sales were up 26.9% in Italy and 1.7% in France.

For the year to date, brand sales were down 2.4% to just under 56,000 vehicles, with share unchanged at 0.6%.

Sales of the brand's number one model, the Ypsilon, were up 33.3% over September a year ago driven in large part by the success of the recently launched ELLE version. The Ypsilon was the best selling B-segment vehicle in Italy in September.

Alfa Romeo posted September sales of just over 5,100 vehicles (-13.2%) with market share at 0.4%. The brand achieved particularly positive performance in Spain and Switzerland with year-over-year sales increases of 7% and 9%, respectively.

Jeep sales totaled more than 3,600 vehicles in September (+61%) with market share up 10 basis points to 0.3%. The brand posted September sales increases well above the average in all of the major European markets. Sales were up 44.7% in Italy, 48.9% in Germany, 27.2% in France, 133.7% in the UK and 31.6% in Spain.

For the year to date, Jeep brand sales were up nearly 47% to more than 25,000 vehicles and market share was up 10 basis points to 0.3%. By major market, sales were up 40.1% in Italy, 40.6% in Germany, 38.3% in France, 95.1% in the UK and 8.9% in Spain.

The Grand Cherokee, the brand's flagship model, continued its strong sales momentum with year-to-date sales up 44.2%. The Wrangler posted a 23% sales increase in September. The recent launches of the Cherokee and Renegade are expected to contribute to further sales increases in the coming months.