Italy July 2014: Fiat Punto, Renault Clio & Dacia Duster surge

The Dacia Duster is among the 10 most popular vehicles in Italy for the 2nd time ever.

* See the Top 50 best-selling models and Top 45 brands by clicking on the title! *

Now updated with actuals for the Top 50 models

Up 5% year-on-year to 114,691 registrations, July is the 6th month of growth so far in 2014 in Italy, an encouraging trend that brings the year-to-date total up 4% to 877,252 units. The Top 6 best-selling models are once again completely reshuffled below a stable Fiat Panda, leader at a strong 7.8% share. Decomposing itself over the past few months to a paltry 6th place in May, the Fiat Punto is galvanised by summer: last year it shone in August, this year it’s July. The endangered Fiat is back up to 2nd place with 5,286 sales and 4.6%, its best market share since last February, and edges past the Fiat 500L in the year-to-date ranking to reclaim the #2 spot in extremis at 35,878 sales vs. 35,876… The Fiat 500 is down to a solid third place while the Fiat 500L crumbles to #6, its lowest ranking at home in over a year – since June 2013.

The Renault Clio reaches a decade-high in Italy this month.

The Renault Clio impresses and nearly doubles its sales year-on-year to climb to a fantastic 4th place with 3,808 units and 3.3% share, by far the most popular foreign model in the country above the VW Golf (#7) and Ford Fiesta (#8). This is only the third time in the past decade that the Clio ranks this high in Italy (with May 2003 and December 2012)! Last great performer in the Top 10 is the Dacia Duster, up a gigantic 304% on July 2013 to break into the monthly Top 10 for only the second time ever after July 2011 at #10 with 2,744 sales and 2.4%, breaking both its monthly volume and market share! This performance boosts Dacia up 134% to 7th brand in the country with 5,051 units and 4.4% share!

The Peugeot 2008 is now regular around the 15th place in Italy.

Further down, its an SUV invasion this month in Italy. Both the Peugeot 2008 (#14) and Renault Captur (#15) turn the pressure up and deliver scores a notch higher than their year-to-date levels, the Opel Mokka is up a further two spots on June to #19, the Kia Sportage is up 12 to #22, its 2nd best ranking ever here and the Hyundai ix35 is up one to #25. Brand-wise, Fiat holds itself above 21% share, the Top 6 is identical to the year-to-date ranking with Volkswagen and Ford on the podium followed by Renault, Opel and Peugeot; Hyundai and Kia are both up 19%, Suzuki is up 38%, Seat up 25%, Volvo up 21%, Porsche up 57% and Maserati up 806%.

Previous post: Italy June 2014: Now with Top 160 best-selling models!

Previous month: Italy June 2014: Fiat Nuova 500 up to #2 for only the 2nd time ever

One year ago: Italy July 2013: Fiat 500L above 500 for the second time

Full July 2014 Top 50 models and Top 45 brands Ranking Tables below.