Fiat used to account for about 60 percent of the Italian car market when it was relatively difficult to import models from abroad. But in October it grabbed just 29.2 percent of sales, up slightly from a historic low of 28.7 seen in September and June.

Fiat-Lancia executive Giorgio Gorelli said the company was making "small but steady steps" to boost sales, which have been bruised by a new strategy of cutting unprofitable sales - as well as Italians choosing foreign models.