Italy 1st Half 2016: Fiat tightens grip on home market up 19%

The Tipo helps Fiat up 22% over H1 2016. Picture quattroruote.it 

* Now updated with the Top 45 All-brands and Top 180 models – click on title to see *

After gaining 15% a year ago, the Italian new car market confirms it is firmly on the mend with sales up another stunning 19% over the first half of 2016 to 1.050.842 registrations. Perennial leader Fiat outpaces its home market with deliveries up 22% to 223.029 and 21.4% share vs. 20.9% a year ago. The hierarchy is changing within its lineup though: if the Panda (+27%) and 500L (+3%) remain dominant, the 500 (+5%) is now threatened by the 500X (+101%) while the Punto (-14%) tumbles down to #7 overall and the all-new Tipo makes its very first appearance in a mid-year ranking in Italy at #18 with 14.138 sales. Volkswagen and Ford remain #2 and #3 respectively for now, but are under intense pressure from Renault, up 32% to 70.280 sales and 6.7% share. Below, Opel (+10%), Peugeot (+15%) and Toyota (+10%) lose market share whereas Lancia (+22%) gains thanks solely to the Ypsilon, up 23% to #2 model overall and accounting for 99.94% of the brand’s sales in Italy so far in 2016.

The Ford Ecosport is up 54% in Italy so far in 2016. 

Lower in the brands ranking, notice Mercedes (+22%) and BMW (+23%) teasing Audi (+19%) for the luxury title, Jeep up 38% thanks to the Renegade (+50% to #13), Suzuki up 33% thanks to the Vitara, Mazda up 83%, Honda up 119%, SsangYong up 128%, Infiniti up 273% and Jaguar up 299%. Over in the models aisle, thanks to Fiat and Lancia holding strong, 6 of the 7 best-sellers are Italian with the only foreigner among them being the Renault Clio, up 20% to 4th place overall with 29.699 sales. The VW Golf (#8), Polo (#9) and Ford Fiesta (#10) follow. The Peugeot 208 (+33%) and Citroen C3 (+38%) also deliver solid gains, while the Hyundai Tucson is the 2nd most popular all-new model below the Fiat Tipo at #24 overall. Notice also the Ford Ecosport up an excellent 54% to #29 and the Renault Kadjar shooting up to #30 but breaking into the Top 20 in June.

Previous post: Italy June 2016: Renault up 58% to keep Volkswagen at bay

One year ago: Italy 1st Half 2015: SUV craze energises market up 15%

Full H1 2016 Top 45 All-brands and Top 180 models vs. Full H1 2015 data below.