Fiat’s European sales dropped 3.4% in September

(ANSA) – Rome, October 16 – Fiat’s sales on the European auto market fell 3.4% in September compared to the same month in 2012, according to official data released on Wednesday.

The Italian carmaker sold 64,806 new vehicles in European Union and EFTA countries last month, compared to 67,103 in September 2012. Its European sales in the first nine months of 2013 amounted to 572,676 vehicles, 8.2% down on the 624,149 sold in the same period last year.

Fiat’s share of the European market stood at 5.4% in September, down from 5.9% in the same month in 2013, but up from 5.2% in August this year.

The company’s share price shed over 1.6% in early trading after the data was released. Fiat said in a statement that it had been “penalised” by a 11.7% drop in sales on the recession-hit Italian market and its decision not to enter a “price war” that was ensuing here.