Home > Italy > Italy February 2013: VW Golf #3 in worst February in 34 years

Italy February 2013: VW Golf #3 in worst February in 34 years

March 8th, 2013 Leave a comment Go to comments

VW Golf Italy February 2013VW Golf

* NOW UPDATED with actuals! Click on title to see the Top 50 models and All-brands *

No recovery in sight for the Italian new car market, and far from it. As the country was preparing for national elections, at 109,213 registrations new car sales are down 17% on February 2012 which was itself down 18% on February 2011… This is the 15th consecutive month of double-digit year-on-year decline for Italian car sales and the worst February since 1979 (92,227)… UNRAE predicts a Full Year 2013 at 1,326,000 units which is a drop of only 5%. This seems rather optimistic given after 2 months the market is down 17% at 223,920 units.

Mini Countryman Italy February 2013Mini Countryman

In this depressing context, the Fiat Panda is #1 for the 14th time in a row thanks to 9,636 sales and 8.8% share, followed once again by the Fiat Punto at 5,793 sales and 5.3%. With the new generation now trickling down into dealerships across the country, the VW Golf is up 5 spots on January to land in third place with 4,055 sales and 3.7%. This kind of seems like an honest performance, but in fact from the data I have access to this could be the first time the Golf manages to rank within the Italian podium for almost 20 years! The last time I have it officially there is in November 1993 when it ranked #3….

Other great performers this month in Italy include the Peugeot 208 up 4 ranks on last month to #7, the Nissan Qahsqai also up 4 to #8, the Mercedes A-Class stable at #17, BMW 3 Series up 10 spots to #18, Mini Countryman up to #22, Kia Sportage solid at #23, BMW 1 Series up to #28 and the Ford Ka up to #32. Notice also the Fiat 500L losing a little steam, down 5 ranks on January to #11 and the Ford B-Max stable at #38.

Previous month: Italy January 2013: Fiat 500L improves again in dire market

One year ago: Italy February 2012: Fiat Panda beats down Fiat Punto

Full February 2013 Top 50 models and All-brands Ranking Tables below.

Italy February 2013 – models:

Pos Model Feb % Jan 2013 % Pos 2012
1 Fiat Panda 9,636 8.8% 1 19,206 8.6% 1 1
2 Fiat Punto 5,793 5.3% 2 12,083 5.4% 2 2
3 VW Golf 4,055 3.7% 8 6,701 3.0% 4 6
4 Lancia Ypsilon 3,249 3.0% 3 7,050 3.1% 3 3
5 Fiat 500 2,938 2.7% 4 6,237 2.8% 5 4
6 Renault Clio 2,872 2.6% 5 6,090 2.7% 6 12
7 Peugeot 208 2,806 2.6% 11 5,224 2.3% 9 15
8 Nissan Qashqai 2,621 2.4% 12 5,001 2.2% 11 13
9 VW Polo 2,454 2.2% 7 5,288 2.4% 8 7
10 Ford Fiesta 2,452 2.2% 9 5,003 2.2% 10 5
11 Fiat 500 L 2,269 2.1% 6 5,385 2.4% 7 n/a
12 Toyota Yaris 2,010 1.8% 15 3,959 1.8% 13 10
13 Smart Fortwo 1,736 1.6% 16 3,539 1.6% 16 14
14 Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1,704 1.6% 14 3,723 1.7% 15 8
15 Opel Corsa 1,590 1.5% 13 3,802 1.7% 14 11
16 Citroen C3 1,495 1.4% 10 3,973 1.8% 12 9
17 Mercedes A Class 1,457 1.3% 17 3,086 1.4% 17 43
18 BMW Serie 3 1,209 1.1% 28 2,213 1.0% 19 32
19 Opel Astra 1,203 1.1% 18 2,617 1.2% 18 17
20 Ford C-Max 1,139 1.0% 23 2,196 1.0% 20 18
21 Mercedes B Class 1,139 1.0% 31 2,063 0.9% 24 25
22 Mini Countryman 1,131 1.0% n/a 1,660 0.7% 34 n/a
23 Kia Sportage 1,015 0.9% 21 2,116 0.9% 22 48
24 Fiat Freemont 1,008 0.9% 19 2,179 1.0% 21 22
25 VW Tiguan 990 0.9% 35 1,877 0.8% 28 19
26 Chevrolet Spark 959 0.9% 39 1,809 0.8% 30 27
27 Nissan Juke 954 0.9% 22 2,036 0.9% 25 24
28 BMW Serie 1 909 0.8% n/a 1,509 0.7% 41 47
29 Dacia Duster 879 0.8% 24 1,916 0.9% 27 20
30 Ford Focus 853 0.8% 20 1,977 0.9% 26 16
31 Hyundai ix35 829 0.8% 33 1,716 0.8% 32 23
32 Ford Ka 819 0.7% n/a 1,427 0.6% 44 n/a
33 Audi A4 808 0.7% 26 1,813 0.8% 29 34
34 Toyota Aygo 808 0.7% 50 1,420 0.6% 45 31
35 Alfa Romeo Mi.To 758 0.7% 44 1,515 0.7% 40 33
36 Citroen C3 Picasso 752 0.7% 27 1,760 0.8% 31 n/a
37 Fiat Qubo 740 0.7% 34 1,624 0.7% 35 30
38 Ford B-Max 737 0.7% 38 1,589 0.7% 36 n/a
39 Hyundai ix20 736 0.7% 41 1,545 0.7% 38 46
40 Kia Rio 727 0.7% 45 1,439 0.6% 43 n/a
41 BMW Serie 5 709 0.6% n/a 1,194 0.5% n/a n/a
42 VW Up! 706 0.6% 36 1,564 0.7% 37 44
43 Ford Kuga 701 0.6% n/a 1,082 0.5% n/a n/a
44 Renault Scenic 698 0.6% n/a 1,316 0.6% 48 40
45 Dacia Sandero 682 0.6% n/a 1,282 0.6% 49 45
46 Toyota RAV4 679 0.6% n/a 1,091 0.5% n/a n/a
47 Audi Q3 670 0.6% 25 1,699 0.8% 33 39
48 Audi A3 669 0.6% n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
49 VW Passat 664 0.6% n/a 1,212 0.5% 55 37
50 Audi A1 656 0.6% 30 2,063 0.9% 23 41

Italy February 2013 – brands:

Pos Brand Feb-13 % /12 Jan 2013 % 2012
1 Fiat 23,424 21.6% -7% 1 49,237 22.1% 1
2 Volkswagen 9,642 8.9% -15% 2 18,229 8.2% 2
3 Ford 6,892 6.4% -35% 3 13,520 6.1% 3
4 Opel 5,629 5.2% -21% 4 12,212 5.5% 4
5 Peugeot 5,534 5.1% -10% 8 10,426 4.7% 7
6 Citroen 4,992 4.6% -32% 5 11,178 5.0% 6
7 Renault 4,947 4.6% -5% 7 9,854 4.4% 8
8 Toyota 4,615 4.3% -20% 11 8,635 3.9% 9
9 Lancia 4,376 4.0% -38% 6 9,354 4.2% 5
10 Nissan 4,273 3.9% -9% 10 8,827 4.0% 11
11 BMW 4,030 3.7% -3% 14 7,464 3.4% 13
12 Audi 3,743 3.5% 2% 9 8,318 3.7% 10
13 Mercedes 3,497 3.2% -7% 12 7,253 3.3% 14
14 Hyundai 3,184 2.9% -22% 13 6,756 3.0% 12
15 Kia 2,750 2.5% 16% 15 5,844 2.6% 17
16 Alfa Romeo 2,492 2.3% -38% 16 5,301 2.4% 15
17 Chevrolet 1,973 1.8% -37% 17 4,092 1.8% 16
18 Dacia 1,914 1.8% -19% 19 3,627 1.6% 18
19 Smart 1,735 1.6% -11% 18 3,538 1.6% 19
20 Mini 1,536 1.4% -13% 21 2,767 1.2% 20
21 Suzuki 1,145 1.1% -17% 22 2,356 1.1% 22
22 Volvo 1,053 1.0% -24% 23 2,121 1.0% 21
23 Land Rover 894 0.8% -21% 20 2,216 1.0% 23
24 Seat 859 0.8% -20% 25 1,803 0.8% 24
25 Skoda 771 0.7% -27% 24 1,711 0.8% 25
26 Jeep/Dodge 582 0.5% -22% 26 1,169 0.5% 26
27 Honda 432 0.4% -5% 27 936 0.4% 27
28 Mazda 368 0.3% -7% 28 865 0.4% 28
29 Subaru 259 0.2% -16% 29 722 0.3% 29
30 Mitsubishi 228 0.2% -41% 31 452 0.2% 30
31 Porsche 165 0.2% -48% 30 479 0.2% 31
32 SsangYong 118 0.1% -20% 34 202 0.1% 34
33 Jaguar 111 0.1% -22% 33 223 0.1% 33
34 Lexus 62 0.1% -24% 36 104 0.0% 35
35 DR Motor 55 0.1% -30% 35 111 0.0% 36
36 Tata 25 0.0% 178% 37 55 0.0% 37
37 Daihatsu 22 0.0% -85% 32 244 0.1% 32
38 Ferrari 20 0.0% -26% 38 49 0.0% 38
39 Mahindra 18 0.0% new 39 39 0.0% n/a
41 Maserati 9 0.0% 80% 43 19 0.0% n/a
42 Infiniti 8 0.0% -67% 42 18 0.0% 39
43 Lamborghini 8 0.0% -47% 45 12 0.0% n/a
44 Aston Martin 7 0.0% 600% 44 15 0.0% n/a
45 Great Wall 6 0.0% 50% 41 22 0.0% n/a
46 Lada 3 0.0% 200% 46 5 0.0% n/a
 - Others 13 0.0% -48%  - 25 0.0%  -

Source: www.unrae.it

Categories: Italy
  1. Steam
    April 1st, 2013 at 05:26 | #1
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    Compared to 2012 Lancia lost four ranks in the brand-ranking. Alfa lost one rank. It is a real pity to watch these brands losing their power.

  2. Marc-It
    March 6th, 2013 at 05:01 | #2
    Reply | Quote

    Sonico :

    AndyT :
    In Europe, only in Italy could “Korean” Chevrolet outsell SEAT and Skoda by over 1000 or so cars a month. Wonder why the Italians love VW but not it’s Spanish or Czech stable mates?

    Chevrolet sales in Italy have been historically led by the Matiz before, and the Spark later: basically ANYTHING under 3.7 meters sells like hot cakes here in Italy, and this brought the Matiz to even reach top 10 in the past.
    As for Seat and Skoda, well, we are very “brand-sensitive” and while the Ibiza is selling quite low this month (which is weird, because it has always been a huge seller), the other models never reached stellar sales. Same could be said for Skoda, that while offering excellent vehicles, never got to the astonishing numbers of the other European countries. When asked to choose between, say, a 23k Golf and a super-equipped 21k Octavia, most would opt for the Golf.

    agree.. plus another fact about Golf (in Italy): here this car is considerated a sort of “point of arrive” by people or a evergreen “fashion-image-car” to shown over his real value. A different vision respect other countries. In fact only in Italy (not in France or in ANYother country) Golf sell more than the 3 national products (Bravo, Delta and Giulietta). Italy is the only country “with a car industry” where Golf do it.
    So you can imagine how any people are ready to do debt for get a Golf.. but not for a Skoda.. that seems a poor-copy of VW, and italians see so much “the image and his value”. So is better a totally different brand. Btw is also true, here Daewoo and after Chvrolet had great hot with Matiz..

  3. Steam
    March 4th, 2013 at 23:28 | #3
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    Strongest italian compact-car: Alfa Giulietta on rank 14.

  4. Sonico
    March 4th, 2013 at 09:07 | #4
    Reply | Quote

    AndyT :
    In Europe, only in Italy could “Korean” Chevrolet outsell SEAT and Skoda by over 1000 or so cars a month. Wonder why the Italians love VW but not it’s Spanish or Czech stable mates?

    Chevrolet sales in Italy have been historically led by the Matiz before, and the Spark later: basically ANYTHING under 3.7 meters sells like hot cakes here in Italy, and this brought the Matiz to even reach top 10 in the past.
    As for Seat and Skoda, well, we are very “brand-sensitive” and while the Ibiza is selling quite low this month (which is weird, because it has always been a huge seller), the other models never reached stellar sales. Same could be said for Skoda, that while offering excellent vehicles, never got to the astonishing numbers of the other European countries. When asked to choose between, say, a 23k Golf and a super-equipped 21k Octavia, most would opt for the Golf.

  5. AndyT
    March 3rd, 2013 at 03:22 | #5
    Reply | Quote

    In Europe, only in Italy could “Korean” Chevrolet outsell SEAT and Skoda by over 1000 or so cars a month. Wonder why the Italians love VW but not it’s Spanish or Czech stable mates?

  6. Marc-It
    March 3rd, 2013 at 01:16 | #6
    Reply | Quote

    Great result this month for LANCIA THEMA,

    — this is the chart of SEDAN seg. E

    BMW 5er+5gt 301
    LANCIA THEMA 287 -> (feb. 2012 was: 67)
    JAGUAR XF 95
    MERCEDES CLS 74
    AUDI A6 50
    MERCEDES E+Sw 72

    —- Entire Chart- Seg. E -all versions, (included Sedan, SW and SUV)

    Bmw 5er+gt+sw 709
    Audi A6+sw 304
    Lancia Thema 287
    Merceded ML 248
    Jeep G.Cherokee 175
    Porsche Cayenne 98

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