Wednesday 8th October 2008

Best Fiat Sales For Four Years

500 helps Fiat increase market share by 3% in the UK

---

Cars like 500 have boosted sales

Fiat enjoyed record sales in the UK last month, shifting nearly 10,000 cars. The carmaker has upped its market share by 3% despite the fact that that national car sales in September fell nearly 21.2% on last year. This was the fifth month in a row that UK sales had fallen.

Fiat is attributing much of its success to the new(ish) 500 supermini, as over 3,600 people snapped one up last month alone in the UK. The car was launched here earlier this year and has proved hugely popular, with hot Abarth versions to come.

Andrew Humberstone, MD of Fiat UK said: 'This fantastic result is testament not only to our eco-friendly cars and the overall desirability of the Fiat range, but to the number of key dealer partners who exceeded their sales targets by more than 150%.'

Even though the international financial crisis shows little sign of subsiding, hence the drop in national car sales across the board, Mr Humberstone remains optimistic. 'We expect the fourth quarter to be challenging but, that said, we believe we are positioned to face these challenges. There has been a shift in consumer buying behaviour, and people are choosing to downsize into the small car sector – an area which is clearly one of our primary strengths,' he added.

[patmahe]

Well done Fiat

A tremendous achievement given the current climate and proof that if a car company has the desire to turn arond its image and reputation then it is possible to do so. Today I would consider buying a Fiat, 5 years ago, not a chance.