Fiat Chrysler Group (FCG) recorded its best month of July sales on record, thanks to record sales of its Jeep SUV brand, but also on the back of increased sales from its European models, Fiat and Alfa Romeo.
The rise in sales has pushed FCG to number nine on the list of Australia’s top-selling manufacturers, and to a 4% total market share for the first time.
The group has just unveiled its new Fiat 500 range and released the Abarth 595 Turismo and 595 Competizione, which will keep momentum going for the second half of 2014.
The FCG’s 24,800 sales is up 44% year-on-year, and has already bettered the group’s entire 2012 sale figures, despite the new-car market slumping to its seventh consecutive month of year-on-year-loss in Australia.
FCG’s record-breaking sales were spearheaded by the Jeep Grand Cherokee with sales of 10,000 this year, and the all-new Jeep Cherokee, which has already achieved 1000 sales after only its second month in market.
The results help cement Jeep’s claim to be the fastest-growing SUV marque, with sales up 4900 on this time last year. July also marked the 200,000th Jeep sold in Australia since the brand launched locally in 1994.
Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Professional brands also recorded a strong July, with all reporting record year-to-date sales results.
Fiat 500 Hatch continues to lead the European three-door market, doing better than the MINI Hatch and VW Beetle. The 500 is also dominating the VFACTS ‘micro’ segment in terms of both year-to-date gains (up 844 units) and percentage gains (up 100%).
Introducing the MY14 Fiat 500 Series 3, Fiat Chrysler Australia president and chief executive officer, Veronica Johns, says: “Fiat enjoyed record-breaking sales in the first half of 2014 and the new 500 range with updated looks and segment-first technology is a timely arrival to continue our momentum.”
The top-of-the-range Lounge (pictured) comes packing Fiat’s 0.9-litre twin-air-turbo that generates 63kW and 145Nm and is paired with a ‘dualogic’ transmission as standard. It uses a very economical 3.9-litres per 100 kilometres – making it Australia’s most fuel-efficient petrol engine.
In spite of the short supply of key variants, Alfa Romeo’s Giulietta delivered its second best month of sales ever reported, having recorded year-on-year gains every month this year. Meanwhile, Fiat Scudo sales peaked to their best level in 18 months, and Punto equalled its own all-time monthly sales record.
In related news, FCG has announced two popular models are back in the Aussie market; the Abarth 595 Turismo and 595 Competizione hatch and convertible (pictured). The dual mode ‘record Monza’ exhaust system is standard on the Competizione hatch and convertible.
Drive away pricing:
- Fiat 500 Pop manual $17,000
- Fiat 500 Pop dualogic $18,500
- Fiat 500 Pop convertible dualogic $21,000
- Fiat 500 S manual $20,000
- Fiat 500 S dualogic $21,500
- Fiat 500 S convertible dualogic $24,000
- Fiat 500 Lounge dualogic $23,000
- Fiat 500 Lounge convertible dualogic $25,500
- Abarth Turismo $33,500
- Abarth Turismo MTA $35,500
- Abarth Competizione $36,500
- Abarth Competizione MTA $38,500
- Abarth Competizione convertible $39,000
- Abarth Competizione convertible MTA $41,000
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