Fiat Group closed 2013 with European sales of just under 741,000 vehicles and market share at 6% for the year, despite continued negative market conditions in Italy.

The Group's best performing markets were the UK (+12.2%) and Spain (+13.7%). The year closed on a positive note with the Group's December sales up 2.3% over the same month a year ago. Fiat brand posted year-over-year sales increases in all major markets. Jeep sales were up 3.8% in Germany for the year and 58.3% in the UK in December. Also in December, Lancia registered a 24.9% increase in sales in France and Alfa Romeo sales were up 7.9% in the UK. The 500 and Panda ranked first and second in the European A segment with a combined share of more than 27% and the 500L led its segment with a 17.2% share.

The European passenger car market (EU27+EFTA) closed 2013 with vehicle registrations down 1.8% for the full year to 12,300,000 units. Demand was positive in December with registrations increasing 13.0% year-over-year to 948,000 vehicles.

Fiat Group posted European sales of just under 741,000 vehicles with market share at 6%, reflecting trading conditions in Italy, which was the worst performer among the 5 major European markets with vehicle registrations down 7.1% from the 2012 level. For the month of December, Group sales totaled nearly 52,000 vehicles, representing a 2.3% year-over-year increase.

The Group's best performing markets were the UK, where sales were up 12.2% for the year (vs. 10.8% for the industry), and Spain, which saw a 13.7% increase (vs. 3.3% for the industry).

Fiat brand's European sales were just under 573,000 vehicles for the year, with share up 10 basis points to 4.7%. In December, sales totaled 39,000 vehicles (+4.4%) and share was 4.1%.

The brand posted increases in all major markets. In France, sales were up 9.5% for the full year (vs. a 5.7% decline for the industry) and 3.5% for December. In the UK, there was a 20.2% increase for the year and 21.7% for December. Spain was 28.8% higher for the year and 38.7% for December. In Germany, December sales were up 3.0%.

The brand's leading models continued to perform well with the 500L ranking first in its segment for both December (segment share of nearly 20%) and the full year (over 73,000 units sold).

The 500 was the number one selling car in the A segment for both December (12,000 units; 15.3% share) and the full year (+10.9% to 162,000 units; ~14% share). The model has been extremely successful throughout Europe with 3 out of 4 being sold outside Italy.

The new Panda family also performed well in its first full year since launch (in 2012). With more than 153,000 units sold, it ranked second in the A segment with a 13.15% share.

For Lancia/Chrysler, European sales totaled nearly 75,000 vehicles for the year, with market share at 0.6%. For the month of December, brand sales were up 2.1% year-over-year to 5,700 vehicles and share was 0.6%.

The Lancia Ypsilon performed particularly well with sales 70% higher in December and 3.3% for the year.

Alfa Romeo closed the year with 64,400 vehicles sold and European market share at 0.5%. In December, sales totaled more than 4,500 units with market share at 0.5%. The brand recorded particularly strong performance in Poland (+70.1% over 2012), Austria (+27%), the UK (+7.9%) and Switzerland (+8.7%). In Italy, sales of the MiTo increased by more than 33%, boosted by the introduction of the new 2014 version, and the brand further consolidated its leadership in the 3-door hatchback segment.

Jeep posted 2013 sales of 24,300 vehicles and market share was in line with the prior year at 0.2%. For the month of December, brand sales totaled 2,200 vehicles (-4.9% year-over-year). Results were particularly positive in Germany (+3.8% for the year and +28.4% in December) and the UK (+58.3% in December).

The Grand Cherokee was one of the top vehicles in its segment in 2013 with 12,000 units sold. Compared with 2012, volumes were 11.35% higher for the full year and 42.6% for the month of December.

For the Group's luxury brands, Ferrari and Maserati, European sales totaled more than 4,000 units for the year.

Turin, 16 January 2014

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