Italy January 2015: Fiat 500X lands at #23

Fiat 500X

* UPDATED – See the Top 50 best-selling models and Top 45 All-brands *

A very encouraging start of the year in Italy with new car sales up 11% on January 2014 to 131,385 registrations. A large part of this growth is however due to sales to rental companies up a spectacular 54% year-on-year just as sales to private buyers, up just 2%, confirm the real stagnation of the market. As a result private sales represent 62.5% of overall sales in January, compared to 68% a year ago. Local institution Fiat dominates as usual an follows the market up 10% to 20.7% share above Volkswagen (+4%) while Ford (+26%), Renault (+27%), Opel (+30%) and Toyota (+23%) all lodge very impressive results. Audi is up to #9 with a strong 3.8% share, Jeep is up 5-fold to #17 and Porsche up 54% to #26.

The Range Rover Evoque lifts its Italian ranking record to #25…

After a couple of months of timid dealership sales, the Fiat 500X makes its grand entrance in the Italian sales charts at #23 with 1,415 sales and 1.1% share, a score that is bound to improve drastically over the next months. The Fiat 500 family is in great shape at home in January with the 500L up 16% year-on-year and 4 spots on December to #2 and the 500 up another 12% on January 2014 and 6 ranks on last mont to #5 despite its old age. The Fiat Panda remains by far the most popular nameplate in the country and manages to outperform the market in January at +13% to 9,438 sales and 7.1% share.

…while the Ford Ecosport brings it to #29.

Lots of movement in the models charts this month with the Range Rover Evoque beating its record ranking at a splendid #25 with 1,326 sales and 1% share (previous best: #32 in January 2013) as well as the Ford Ecosport up 33 spots on December to also smash its ranking record at #29 (previous best: #50 last October). Helped by the new generation, the Opel Corsa is up 54% to #11, the Nissan Qashqai is up 39% to #12, the Dacia Duster up 49% to #13, the Opel Mokka up 78% to #15 and both the Renault Captur and Kia Sportage up 50% to #15 and #18 respectively. Hero of last month, the Jeep Renegade lodges another incredible sales figure in January at #17 with 1,945 units finding a new home. Finally, notice the Smart Forfour confirming it is a new force to be reckoned with in Italy at #37 with 1,059 sales.

Previous post: Italy Full Year 2014: Now with Top 150 best-selling models

Original FY14 post: Italy Full Year 2014: Podium 100% Fiat for 2nd time in 15 years

Previous month: Italy December 2014: Jeep Renegade in Top 10, outsells Fiat 500

One year ago: Italy January 2014: Lancia Ypsilon and Fiat 500L shine

Full January 2015 Top 50 models and Top 45 All-brands below.