The Fiat group strengthened its position as the fastest growing automaker in Europe in September.

Fiat’s sales rose 17.8 per cent to 893,240 units and the Italian automaker grabbed a 7.5 per cent market share in the first nine months of the year, according to figures provided by ACEA, the Brussels-based European car manufacturers’ association.

Its market share was 6.4 per cent a year earlier.

The Fiat brand was the main catalyst in the group’s growth, with sales up to 22.8 per cent to 686,253 units during the period.

The Fiat brand’s market share rose to 5.8 per cent from 4.7 per cent a year earlier, propelled by booming sales of the award-winning Grande Punto small car and a rising volume for the upper-medium Croma.

Alfa also gave the Fiat Group a boost. Its sales through nine months are up 10.3 per cent to 111,993 cars.

The result of the Fiat group is quite remarkable when one takes into account that most of the other European volume brands lost shares with overall European sales falling to 2.6 per cent in September, the fourth consecutive monthly decline.

Through three quarters, sales for 23 European Union countries plus Switzerland, Norway and Iceland were up a 0.1 per cent to 11.85 million units.

For further details about the Fiat range kindly visit the Fiat Showroom in Psaila Street Birkirkara, by calling on 2382-3000 or by logging onto www.ucim.com.mt.