Italy April 2012: Citroen C3, Alfa Giulietta & Chevrolet Aveo shine

Chevrolet Aveo

* NOW UPDATED with actuals for the Top 50 best-selling models: click on title to see! *

Italian car sales spend another month in hell, down 18% year-on-year in April to 130,215 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 540,146 units, down 20% on 2011. UNRAE now predicts a full year 2012 at 1,434,000 registrations which would be down 18% on 2011 and 27% on 2010, and the worst figure in at least 35 years. UNRAE goes even as far as saying that ‘2012 may be remembered as the year when, for the first time since the car started mass production (in 1946), with more cars being disposed of than ones being bought, we witnessed a process of “demotorisation” of Italy’! Historic times indeed…

Fiat Panda

The most affected provinces are Florence (-66%) and Rome (-61%) with Naples (-32%) and Milan (-27%) also suffering. In this sombre context, the Fiat Panda continues its brilliant run, enjoying its 4th consecutive month atop the models ranking thanks to 10,731 sales and 8.2% share. The longest stint at #1 the Panda has ever enjoyed was 6 months in a row from August 2008 to January 2009. The next few months will tell us whether the 3rd generation Panda is the most successful of all!

Citroen C3. Picture by Ciprian Mihai, all rights reserved.

The Fiat Punto, although still #2, is however feeling a tad better this month at 7.1% market share, its highest since last December. After falling to #5 in March, the Lancia Ypsilon reclaims its spot on the podium at #3 for the 7th time in the last 10 months at 4,670 sales and 3.6%. The Fiat 500 is also in better shape, up 4 spots to #4, while the Citroen C3 simply delivers its highest ranking in over 2 years at #5 thanks to 3,981 sales and 3.5%.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Picture by Mikko Miettinen, all rights reserved.

Excellent month also for the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, up 5 ranks on March to reach its 2nd best ranking ever at #7 at 3,238 units and a best-ever 2.5% market share. The Giulietta ranked #6 in January 2011. The Lancia Musa continues on its outstanding run, up a further 3 spots on last month to #16 and #22 year-to-date vs. #33 in 2011. But the biggest progressions of the month go to two Chevrolets: the Aveo is up 32 spots to a formidable 17th position with 1,701 sales and 1.3%, with the Spark doing even better, up 39 ranks to #18.

Other good performers in April include the Fiat Bravo up 23 spots to #24, the Audi Q3 up 10 to a best-ever 33rd place at 934 units and 0.7%, the Peugeot 3008 up to #35 with 861 sales and 0.7%, the Peugeot 5008 up 25 ranks to #37 at 849 units and 0.7% also and the Peugeot 208 breaking into the Italian Top 50 for the first time at #44 with 778 sales and 0.6%.

Previous month: Italy March 2012: Fiat Panda #1 for third month in a row

One year ago: Italy April 2011: Fiat Panda reclaims top spot

Full April 2012 Top 50 Ranking Table below.