- Fiat Chrysler Automobiles closed the third quarter of 2019 with sales in Europe totaling nearly 200,200 vehicles and market share at 5.4%. The increases registered in September in nearly all major markets (with sales up 12.8% to 69,500 units) are a positive sign for the final quarter of the year
- Quarter influenced by fluctuating market conditions. While only two brands posted sales increases in the first two months of the quarter (Jeep in July and Lancia in July and August), in September all FCA brands registered strong growth: Alfa Romeo was up 25.9%, Lancia +23.3%, Jeep +18.1% and Fiat +10.8%
- The Fiat 500 and Fiat Panda were the best-selling A segment vehicles in Europe in September, with the Panda registering a 14.0% year-over-year increase for the year-to-date. The Fiat Tipo also posted strong growth, with sales up 111.6% year-over-year
- Lancia continued its strong performance, posting increases for both the quarter and the year-to-date
- The Alfa Romeo Giulia, Stelvio and Giulietta closed the last month of the third quarter with significant sales increases of 19.0%, 39.9% and 51.1% respectively
- The third quarter closed in a positive wayfor the Jeep brand as well, with the Renegade, Cherokee and Compass all posting sales increases
FCA closed the third quarter with a significant increase in European sales in September (+12.8%), essentially in line with the industry. The Group sold a total of 200,200 vehicles for the quarter, representing a market share of 5.4%. The strong gains posted by all brands in September represent a positive sign for the final quarter of the year.
Alfa Romeo posted a 25.9% increase in sales for the last month of the quarter with more than 4,100 vehicles sold and share stable at 0.3%. In addition to a 33.9% sales increase in Italy, the brand also posted positive results in Germany (+21.5%), France (+26.0%), the UK (+5.5%) and Spain (+100.0%). September sales were particularly positive for the Giulia (+19.0%), Stelvio (+39.9%) and Giulietta (+51.1%).
Lancia (sold only in Italy) continued its strong performance with third quarter sales up 34.9% to 11,000 vehicles. In September, brand sales were up 23.3% to nearly 4,200 units and share was stable at 0.3%. For the year-to-date, Lancia registered a 29.2% increase in sales to 45,800 vehicles and market share was up 0.1 percentage point to 0.4%. Driving this performance was the Lancia Ypsilon. The current version, launched in 2011 with a major refresh in 2015, continues to be one of the most popular models in Italy. With continuous updates and new trim packages, (the latest example is the new Monogram special series launched in October this year), the Ypsilon was second only to the Fiat Panda for both the quarter and the month of September. In fact, the Ypsilon is already very close to beating its strong 2018 result of 48,600 units sold. The average age of customers purchasing an Ypsilon in 2019 was lower than in 2018. Overall, the Ypsilon has the highest percentage of women customers and a customer base younger than the average for the B segment.
Jeep closed the quarter with nearly 40,200 vehicles sold and market share at 1.1%. In September, sales were up 18.1% to more than 11,800 vehicles and market share was 0.9%. For the year-to-date, there was a 0.8% increase in sales to nearly 132,400 vehicles and market share was stable at 1.1%. The brand posted positive results in France (+36.9%), Italy (+27.7%), Germany (+6.3%) and Spain (+4.6%).
Jeep customers are increasingly opting for premium trims and, in fact, the top-of-the-line S version of the Renegade, launched in May in Italy, already accounts for 7% of total sales.
Sales of the Renegade were up 26.2% for the quarter, 40.65% in September and 14.4% for the year-to-date. Compass sales increased 6.6% in September. The Cherokee registered an increase of 10.4% for the quarter, 34.4% in September and 8.9% for the year-to-date. Which means that nearly all models registered increases.
Fiat brand sales were up 10.8% year-over-year in the last month of the third quarter to nearly 49,000 vehicles and share was 3.8%. Sales increased in Spain (+60.5%), Germany (+26.8%), France (+8.3%) and Italy (+3.4%).
The Fiat 500 and Panda continued to post positive results. The 500 was leader in the A segment with sales up 5.8% to more than 17,400 units. Sales of the Fiat Panda increased 11.6% for the quarter, 2.4% in September and 14.0% for the year-to-date. The brand also introducted the first ever "luxury Panda" with the recent launch of the new Trussardi special edition.
Several other models also posted positive results. The 500X, which continued among the top ten in the European Small SUV segment, closed the quarter with a 40.0% increase in sales in September, including the contribution of the recently launched Sport version.
The Fiat Tipo posted a significant increase of 111.6% and the 500L of 6.5%: both models grew more than their respective segments.
London, October 16, 2019
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