Italy March 2016: Recovery continues with volumes up 17%

The new Tipo helps push Fiat sales up 22% at home in March. 

* Now updated with actuals for the Top 45 All-brands & Top 180 models – see title *

The February 2016 post has now been updated with the Top 180 models

Avanti! Italian new car sales are on a roll in 2016: up another 17% in March to 192.008 registrations, lifting the 1st quarter total up 21% to 524.141 units. March being the biggest month of the year, this means March 2016 is the largest monthly volume in Italy in no less than 6 years. The good news is this spectacular growth is healthy, unlike neighbours France and Spain, with the private sales ratio going up from 57.2% a year ago to 61.5% this month thanks to volumes surging 26% year-on-year. On the other hand, after a very strong first two months of the year, sales to rental companies are down 2% in March. The first quarter figures show private sales up a whopping 30% to 63% share, up 4 percentage points on the same period last year, whereas rental sales are up just 9% to 23.1% share, down 2.6 pp.

Italy March 2016 – Monthly sales detail by channel

Brand-wise, Fiat once again beats its home market thanks to a smart rationalisation of its lineup with sales up 22% to 41.926 and 24.3% share vs. 20.9% year-to-date. Volkswagen (+21%) is back in 2nd place, but just, at 14.281 sales vs. 14.087 for Ford (+26%) while below, Renault (+31%) is catching up, followed by Peugeot (+15%) and Opel (-3%) both underperforming. Lancia (+30%), Jeep (+29^%), Honda (+118%), Mazda (+48%) and Lexus (+72%) shoot up while Ssangyong (+148%), Infiniti (+243%) and Jaguar (+401%) pull the largest overall year-on-year gains in the market this month.

For the second month running, the entire Fiat 500 family fits within the Italian Top 5. 

In the models ranking, the Fiat Panda follows the market at +17% to 15.866 sales and 8.3% share, with the Lancia Ypsilon in tow at 7.124, up a fantastic 32%. For the second month in a row – and ever, the entire Fiat 500 family fits within the Top 5 best-sellers: the 500 is up 39% to #3, the 500X up 171% to #4 and the 500L down 23% to #5, adding up to 18.211 sales and a record 9.5% market share, markedly above the Panda. The 500 family now also fits within the year-to-date Top 5 for the first time in Italy. Meanwhile the Punto is down to #10 so far in 2016 vs. #2 in 2015, but the all-new Tipo is up a further 2 spots to #22 thanks to 2.327 sales, the highest monthly total since the nameplate’s relaunch last November. Other great performers this month include the Jeep Renegade at #12 (+44%), the Peugeot 2008 (+38%), Peugeot 308 (+43%), Citroen C3 (+40%), Ford Focus (+52%), Audi A4 (+108%) and Ford Ecosport (+100%).

Previous month: Italy February 2016: Entire Fiat 500 family fits within Top 5 for 1st time

One year ago: Italy March 2015: Fiat 500X now inside Top 20

Full March 2016 Top 45 All-brands and Top 180 models below.