Europe's Minicar Market Has a New Leader

Fiat Chrysler Automobile's Fiat 500 displaced the company's Panda model last year to become Europe's best-selling minicar, notes Automotive News Europe. The Panda has held the top spot for nine years.

Figures from JATO Dynamics show that demand for the 500 reached 160,000 units in 2013 compared with 152,400 for the Panda and 129,800 for the Volkswagen Up.

Sales of the two Fiat models were sufficient to maintain FCA's leadership in Europe's minicar segment, although Panda sales plunged 18% last year because of the depressed Italian market.

Even so, Italy remained Europe's biggest minicar market, with sales of 256,000 units in 2013, according to industry consultants Invev. Germany was second with 227,700 units. The firm estimates the combined minicar market for 19 European countries, including Russia and Turkey, was 1.1 million vehicles last year.