The European auto market (EU28+EFTA) posted year-over-year growth for both July and August, with new registrations up 5.6% and 1.8% respectively. For the eight months year-to-date, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles had a 6% market share. For Fiat brand, sales were up 5.9% in July and 2.1% for the year to date. Jeep continued to register strong growth, with sales up 48.1% in July and 45.2% in August. The Fiat Panda and 500 were once again the two top-selling vehicles in the A segment, with a combined share of 31.45% for the month of July and 29.2% for the year-to-date period. The 500L was the best selling vehicle in its segment for both July and August.
The European auto market (EU28+EFTA) continued its upward trend during the summer period. New passenger car registrations were up 1.8% in August to more than 701,000 vehicles (vs 689,000 for the same month in 2013) and 5.6% in July to nearly 1, 082,000 units (vs 1,024,000).
For the eight months year-to-date, registrations were up 5.8% over the same period in 2013 to 8,636,000 vehicles.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles posted mixed results for the summer period. In July, sales were up 3.2% to nearly 65,000 vehicles with market share at 6% (-10 bps). August sales were impacted by the traditional seasonal drop in registrations in Italy, decreasing 2.7% to 35,000 vehicles, with market share at 5% (-20 bps).
For the year to date, FCA sales totaled more than 519,000 vehicles (+2.1% year-over- year), accounting for a 6% share of the market (-20 bps).
Year-to-date sales were up in Germany (+3%), France (+0.7%), the UK (+16.3%) and Spain (40.9%).
Fiat brand posted August sales of nearly 27,000 vehicles, down 4.2% year-over-year, with market share decreasing to 3.8% (vs 4.1% a year ago). July sales, by contrast, were up 5.9% to more than 50,000 vehicles, with market share 10 basis points higher at 4.7%.
For the year to date, brand sales totaled nearly 402,000 vehicles (+2% year-over-year) and market share was 4.7% (-10 bps).
Fiat brand posted positive results in nearly all major European markets, including: Spain (sales up 41.8% in July and 84.8% in August), France (+3% in July and +5.5% in August), the UK (+5.8% in July and +1.7% in August) and Germany (+3.6% in July).
The 500 and Panda were once again the two most popular cars in the European A segment, with a combined share of 31.45% for July and 29.2% for the year to date. The Fiat 500L was also leader in its segment, with share reaching 22% in July and 19.7% in August. For the year to date, sales of the 500L totaled more than 68,000 vehicles representing a 22.9% segment share (vs. 17.1% for the same period in 2013). Overall, the 500 family posted sales increases for both July and August and, for the year to date, sales were up 23.2% over the prior year. The 500 family continues to be popular across Europe, with 66% of sales generated outside of Italy.
Lancia/Chrysler posted August sales of 2,900 vehicles (-8.9% year-over-year) and market share was 0.4% (vs 0.5% a year ago). For July, brand sales were down 24.2% to 5,200 vehicles and share decreased 20 basis points to 0.5%. The brand has also posted solid increases for the year to date in both Spain (+49.6%) and France (69.6%), where market share doubled to 0.4%. Performance was also strong in the UK in August, with sales up 30.4% year-over-year.
For the year to date, brand sales were down 4.4% to 49,000 vehicles, with share unchanged at 0.6%.
Sales of the Lancia Ypsilon, the brand’s number one model, increased 7.9% in August and 8.9% for the year to date. The Ypsilon also maintained its position as the second best selling B-segment model in Italy so far this year.
Alfa Romeo posted August sales of 2,600 vehicles (-13.6%) and July sales of 4,900 vehicles (-13.4%). For the year to date, the brand registered European sales of more than 40,000 vehicles (-10.1% year-over-year) and market share was 0.5% (-10 bps).
Performance over the same period was positive in the UK and Switzerland, however, with increases of 4.4% and 1.5% respectively. The MiTo posted an 8.2% increase in Italy for the year to date. Giulietta sales were up 6.8% in the UK over the same period and stable in Germany and Spain.
Jeep sales totaled more than 2,200 vehicles in August (+45.2%) and 3,000 in July (+48.1%), in both cases representing a 0.3% market share (+10 bps).
For the year to date, brand sales totaled just over 21,700 vehicles (+44.7% year -over-year) with market share at 0.3% (+10 bps).
The brand’s flagship model, the Grand Cherokee, continued to perform well during the summer months maintaining its position as one of the leaders in its segment. Sales for the Grand Cherokee were up 9.6% in August and 48.3% for the year to date. Full availability of the Cherokee and the imminent arrival of the Renegade will further contribute to the brand’s sales growth in the coming months.
For Ferrari and Maserati, sales totaled 964 vehicles in July and 414 in August. Year-to- date, combined sales for the two brands totaled 5,981 units.
