Italy 6 months 2013: Fiat 500L and Renault Clio invite themselves in Top10

The Fiat 500L lands directly in 7th place over the period.

* See the Top 50 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

After losing 20% this time last year to drop well under one million units, the Italian new car market sheds another 10% over the first 6 months of 2013 to just 734,735 registrations. Doesn’t look like the end of the tunnel is in sight yet and 2013 could be the second year in a row since World War 2 that the total car population in the country retreads year-on-year. The 4 most popular vehicles in the country stay unchanged vs. 2013, but follow different trajectories. The Fiat Panda evolves like the market at -11% and retains a solid 8% market share, the Fiat Punto continues to slide in the absence of any significant refresh since this generation’s launch 8 years ago at -23% to only 5.1% share, the nameplate’s lowest ever at mid-year. The Lancia Ypsilon curbs its loss to just -6% and as a results improves its market share slightly to 3.5% while the Fiat 500 is actually up 1% year-on-year to 24,273 sales and 3.3%.

The Renault Clio is the best-selling foreigner in Italy so far in 2013

Big change below: the Ford Fiesta had been the best-selling foreigner in Italy for an amazing 8 years in a row at year-end (2005-2012) but for now it’s the Renault Clio holding the title, up 7 spots on 2012 to #5 thanks to sales up 48% to 20,110 and 2.7% share. The VW Golf is hiding just behind, down 3% but stable in 6th place, with the VW Polo (-3%) also passing the Ford Fiesta (-26%).

The Mercedes A-Class is up 89% to #17

A bet that has paid so far: the Fiat 500L is the best performing all-new model over the period, landing directly at #7 with 19,305 sales and 2.6%. It peaked at #4 in March, outselling the 500 that month and falling short of a spot on the podium for 50 units… The other new entrant in the Top 10 is the Peugeot 208, launched a little bit more than a year ago it is up 305% to #10 at 16,542 units and 2.3%, while the Nissan Qashqai can’t stop surprising, up 18% to #11 and 2.1% share.

Almost two years after launch, the Range Rover Evoque is up 33% to #43

Further down, other great performers include the Mercedes A-Class up 89% to #17, Citroen C3 Picasso up 132% to #19, VW Up! up 67% to #22 (even though I expected a better score for this format in Italy), Dacia Sandero up 36% to #24, Mini Countryman up 6 spots to #25, Kia Sportage up 30 spots and 49% to #29, Audi A3 up 37 and 71% to #30 and the Range Rover Evoque up 33% to #43. The only other all-new model in the Top 50 is the Ford B-Max at #40, with the Opel Mokka falling short by 4 spots at #54.

Previous post: Italy June 2013: Renault Clio best-selling foreigner at #5

One year ago: Italy June 2012: Lancia Delta and Toyota Yaris at highest in 3 years

Full 6 months 2013 Top 50 Ranking Table below.