Slightly over a year has passed since the new name/logo Fiat Professional was established in April 2007: this name expresses perfectly the identity of the leading brand dedicated entirely to commercial vehicles. Therefore, 2008 has been marked by the growth and consolidation of the brand’s identity, and also by the professional approach that has generated very significant sales results.

Slightly over a year has passed since the new name/logo Fiat Professional was established in April 2007: this name expresses perfectly the identity of the leading brand dedicated entirely to commercial vehicles. Therefore, 2008 has been marked by the growth and consolidation of the brand’s identity, and also by the professional approach that has generated very significant sales results.

The Hannover show represents the right opportunity to discover both the future developments and the models that have completely renewed the Fiat Professional range over the last 24 months: an offer that always interprets the real needs of the customers by keeping up-to-date in perfect harmony with their expectations. Moreover, this is the secret of the success achieved by Fiat Professional in recent years in a market that is growing constantly.

In fact, a 20% increase in commercial vehicle registrations was recorded in Europe during the last 4 years (from 2,040,000 units in 2004 to 2,441,000 units in 2007). Fiat Professional registered a 30% increase in its sales in Europe during the same period, increasing from 217 thousand units in 2004 to 283 thousand units in 2007, reflecting an increase in its market share from 10.7% to 11.6%.

The results achieved by Fiat Professional were indeed significant, if only 2007 is taken into consideration: 433,000 vehicles sold throughout the world, representing an increase of 64,000 units compared with 2006 (a 17% growth). This result was achieved with the contribution made by all the principal models which recorded particularly positive results.

For example, the X250 family (Fiat Ducato, together with the two similar PSA models) was reconfirmed as the best-selling model in its segment in 2007 (27.9% market share in Europe). In particular, the Ducato recorded 119 thousand vehicle registrations (vehicle registrations in 2006 totalled 96 thousand) increasing its market share from 15.1% to 16.4%. The production at the Sevel plant has been increased by up to 300 thousand units a year, considering the extraordinary success achieved by the X250 models, (approximately 1,300 vehicles/day): in this way the industrial site located in Val di Sangro (Italy) is confirmed as the largest plant in Europe for the production of vehicles in the 2G segment.

The sales performance for the New Scudo was also outstanding: this vehicle was nominated “Van of the Year 2008”, and was selected in 2007 by more than 35 thousand European customers (20,300 customers in 2006), increasing its market share from 4.3% to 6.7%. It is important to emphasise that the model is particularly highly valued also in the versions designed to transport passengers: in fact, the Panorama and Combi models represent approximately 40% of the total sales. The Doblò Cargo model also contributed to the European success achieved by Fiat Professional in 2007 with 60,900 vehicles sold and a market share of 11.8%; the results achieved in 2006 were 58,700 and 11.4%, respectively.

The significant results have not only been confirmed but even exceeded in the first 6 months of this year. In fact, Fiat Professional registered 136.550 units in Western Europe, during the January-June 2008 period, 4,400 more vehicles compared with the same period in 2007, reflecting an increased market share from 11.7% to 12.4% (this result represents achieving second place in the market ranking). In particular, the Ducato model recorded 63,200 vehicle registrations in the first half of the year, representing a 16.5% market share in the respective segment. Scudo increased its sales volumes by 2,800 units (from 16,000 in 2007 to 18,800 in 2008) and its respective market share by 1.3 percentage points (increasing from 5.9% to 7.2%).

The growth in the 1B segment (corresponding to the Doblò Cargo and Fiorino segment) was even more significant (32,200 vehicles in 2007 compared with 36,200 vehicles in 2008), reflecting an increase in the market share from 12.2% during last year to 13.7% in 2008. This result was achieved also thanks to the significant contribution made by the recently introduced Fiorino that has received 24,600 orders, overall, from the date of its initial launch last December to the end of June 2008 for the goods transport and Combi versions.

Today, Fiat Professional continues to pursue two fundamental guidelines to consolidate its leadership position in Italy and to improve its position in Europe further: the introduction of new products and the development of the Network. Therefore, on one hand, the on-going renewal of the offer, in order to render it more and more competitive and complete in the over 80 markets where Fiat Professional has a presence. On the other hand, the development of the sales network that has been renewed in terms of structures, human resources and after-sales services. In fact, today, Fiat Professional's specialised network can rely on 824 dealers in Europe (78 of which are also Iveco dealers) and 2,440 sales staff capable of satisfying every need of operators that use their vehicles as a daily working tool.