Italy’s Fiat has raised its stake in Chrysler from 25 per cent to 30 per cent after fulfilling a further condition stipulated by the US government in the Detroit carmaker’s 2009 restructuring.

Chrysler said on Tuesday that it had met the condition by achieving revenues outside North America of more than $1.5bn since it emerged from bankruptcy protection, and signing an agreement to distribute one or more Chrysler models through the bulk of Fiat’s dealers in Brazil – the carmaker’s second-largest market after Italy – and the EU.

The increase in Fiat’s stake marks another step in its drive to gain majority control of Chrysler. Sergio Marchionne, chief executive of both companies, has said that his goal is to gain a 51 per cent stake this year ahead of a planned public share offering.