The Ford Fiesta dethroned the popular Volkswagen Golf in March to become Europe's most-popular vehicle, according to JATO Dynamics, a Britain-based data company, even while industry sales declined 9%.
The Golf had been the top-selling vehicle for a year, but Fiesta has been well received since the new version went on sale last fall. Fiesta also benefited in Germany and Italy from government incentive programs that have provided money to people who turn in old cars when they buy new cars, JATO said.
Ford Motor Co. sold 52,805 Fiestas in Europe last month, up 15.5% from March 2008, while Golf sales dropped by 0.1% to 46,415.
Ford plans to begin selling the Fiesta in North America early in 2010.
Coming up: Ford will report its first-quarter financial results on Friday.
Fiat may seek GM tie-up in Europe
Scrambling to tie together loose ends of its proposed alliance with Chrysler, Fiat reportedly is exploring a similar partnership with General Motors' operations in Europe and South America.
Trade publication Automotive News reported that talks are in an early phase, but an agreement with GM's European and Latin American operations would be in addition to its pending partnership with Chrysler. The deal would not include Saab or Chevrolet's European business.
Where's the money coming from?
Stay tuned this Thursday when Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is to present the company's first-quarter financial results.
Coming up: Chrysler is to resume talks Monday with the Canadian Auto Workers in Toronto.
Opel draws investor interest
General Motors Corp.'s Opel unit in Europe, seeking to avert a collapse, has attracted interest from more than half a dozen serious investors, GM CEO Fritz Henderson said last week.
Many financial investors and some industrial companies are looking at Opel, Henderson said on a conference call, without elaborating. Cost cuts and German incentives to trade in older cars have eased a strain on Opel's cash, pushing a liquidity crunch to later rather than earlier in this quarter, he said.
Coming up: GM works to reduce its U.S. white-collar ranks before May 1.
