Fiat Expects Global Sales to Drop 6% in 2013

Fiat SpA predicts its worldwide sales will shrink to 1.7 million vehicles next year from 1.8 million units in 2012 because of continuing weakness in the European car market, Automotive News reports.

Fiat-Chrysler Chairman Sergio Marchionne tells the newspaper he expects Chrysler Group global volume to climb 8% to 2.6 million vehicles in compared with an estimated 2.4 million units this year.

Chrysler sales growth will be constrained by capacity because it is operating at an average of 107% of its straight-time capacity, according to Marchionne.

As a result, Marchionne says Fiat will build its upcoming Maserati SUV at its underutilized plant in Mirafiori, Italy, instead of at Chrysler's Jeep factory in Detroit as he previously implied. The switch will allow Chrysler to increase the facility's output of the Jeep Wagoneer large SUV due early next year.

Marchionne also discloses that the company is close to a decision about whether to produce the Chrysler 100 compact hatchback for the U.S. He confirms that Fiat would market a Lancia version, the Delta, in Europe, if the program is approved.