PARIS - Jeep and Fiat owner Stellantis on Monday posted a 10 percent second quarter increase in global vehicle deliveries compared with the same period last year, driven notably by a strong showing in the United States.
Between March and June, the multinational group, which comprises 14 brands including Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Fiat and Peugeot, reported it had delivered 1.6 million vehicles across dealerships, distributors, retail outlets and corporate fleets.
"Growth was driven primarily by North America and Enlarged Europe, partially offset by lower volumes in the Middle East and Africa, largely due to the regional conflict, and in South America, where a weaker Argentine market weighed on performance," the group stated.
Despite a decline in sales of electric and hybrid vehicles, second quarter deliveries in North America surged 38 per cent year-on-year driven mainly “by new or refreshed products and powertrain offerings," the manufacturer said, while highlighting rising demand for models such as the Jeep Cherokee.
In Europe, the group hailed a year-on-year increase of 5 percent or 39,000 units, growth driven chiefly by deliveries of electric vehicles and evenly split between Stellantis and its Chinese partner Leapmotor, of which it is the main shareholder.
The group said it benefited from the recent launches of four models based on the Smart Car platform -– the Citroen C3, C3 Aircross, Opel/Vauxhall Frontera and Fiat Grande Panda -– whose collective sales rose by 51 per cent year-on-year.
In contrast, deliveries fell by 3 per cent or 4,000 units in the Middle East and Africa, and by 7,000 units in South America, where a sharp decline in sales in Argentina overshadowed growth in Brazil.
CEO Antonio Filosa had said in May that North America was Stellantis' biggest opportunity as the group unveiled a five-year investment plan worth 60 billion euros, which prioritised the region and reduced capacity in Europe.
- AFP