Italy will decide together with its European Union partners whether to extend the duration of incentives to buy new cars when they expire at the end of 2009, Economy Minister Giulio Tremonti said on Tuesday.

This decision will be taken jointly with our partners, Tremonti told reporters.

Sergio Marchionne, the chief exective of carmaker Fiat (FIA.MI), said last week it would be disastrous if the incentives were not extended.