Recent data (01/03/2006) from CSP (Centro Studi Promotor), one of the major automotive research organizations in Italy, http://www.centrostudipromotor.com/ notes that sales of new cars in Italy in 2005 totaled 2,234.174 units (-1.35% over 2004).
The result is to be rated as positive, when taking into account the increased gasoline prices, the weak economic situation and the fiscal burden on car ownership. In particular, this is the ninth consecutive year that new car sales in Italy exceed 2,230,000, which testifies that the market is relatively stable. Whereas the trend in the latest six-month was positive, December 2005 showed a reduction of 6.3% over December 2004.

Italian brands lost 1.46%, while foreign competitors lost 1.30%. Complete data relative to single makes is not available yet.  Fiat should have been around 625,000 units (28.09% of the market). Fiat was recovering in the last part of 2005 due to the introduction of some new models.

As a comparison, we can highlight that domestic Italian makes’ sales totaled 634,429 units in 2004 with a share of 28.09% (27.95% in 2003).  In 2004,  the local dominant  group, Fiat Auto SpA (Fiat, Lancia, and Alfa Romeo), had   28.04% of  market share and manufactured  4 out of 10 best selling cars: Fiat Punto (1st), Fiat Panda (2nd), Lancia Ypsilon (5th) and Fiat Seicento (10th). Fiat SpA owns the Ferrari and Maserati sporting car makes.  The Fiat brand  had more than 20% of the Italian market.

In 2005 the situation should be similar to 2004, when foreign brands sold 1,624,432 cars, or 71.91% of the market (down from 72.05% in 2003). According to the first data released, the top competitors of Fiat Group should have been the groups GM (Opel + Chevrolet), Ford (Ford + Mazda + Land Rover + Volvo) and Volkswagen (Volkswagen + Audi + Seat + Skoda)... (continues)

Please note:

This Industry Sector Profile is also part of the more comprehensive
ITALY COUNTRY COMMERCIAL GUIDE 2006.