Italy May 2017: Fiat Tipo settles in 2nd place

The Fiat Tipo is the 2nd best-selling car in Italy in May. Picture motorverso.com

* See the Top 45 brands and Top 50 models by clicking on the title *

Italian new car sales are up 8.2% in May to 204.113, the first time above 200.000 for May since 2008. This leads to a year-to-date total up 8.1% to 948.051. This result is spruced up by company sales shooting up 40.9% year-on-year to 20.4% share, an increase of 5 percentage points compared to May 2016. Year-to-date, company sales are up 36.8% to 18.6% share vs. 14.6% a year ago. Private sales lag way behind the market growth at just +0.7% and see their share go from 58.3% in May last year to 54.4% now. This is in fact a better performance than year-to-date where private sales are down 1.3% to 539.710 or 56.6% of the market, a 5.1 percentage point drop. Rental sales also fall behind the market at +4.4% to 25.2% share but are up 13.1% year-to-date to 236.706 units or 25% share.

Brand-wise, market leader Fiat beats the market with a 11% gain to hold a 22.4% share vs. 21.8% so far this year, Volkswagen reclaims the #2 spot it holds year-to-date thanks to sales following the market at +8% but Renault drops 3% to third place. Impressively, the next five carmakers post double-digit gains: Ford (+10%), Peugeot (+14%), Opel (+11%) and most strikingly Toyota (+25%) and Citroen (+43%). Dacia also bounces up 36% to make a rare appearance inside the Italian Top 10 in 10th position. Notice also Alfa Romeo (+32%), Suzuki (+38%), Porsche (+23%), Jaguar (+29%), Maserati (+73%) and Lamborghini (+90%) all posting generous gains.

No surprise atop the models ranking: the Fiat Panda reigns supreme at 7.3% share, almost double any other nameplate in market. It’s in second place that we have a confirmation: the Fiat Tipo gains one spot on April and posts a third consecutive podium finish, having now reached its cruising sales rhythm. It ranks #3 year-to-date vs. #14 in FY2016 and totally dominates the station wagon ranking with 9.294 sales vs. 4.922 for the Audi A4 and 4.648 for the Renault Megane. The Fiat 500 is also in great shape this month with a 58% surge to third place while the Renault Clio remains the most popular foreigner at #4 ahead of two struggling nameplates: the Fiat 500L and Lancia Ypsilon, both down 27%. Notice also the Citroen C3 taking off at +92%, the Dacia Sandero up 64% to #14, the VW Tiguan up 205% to #21 and the Peugeot 3008 up 529% to #28.

Previous post: Italy March-April 2017: Fiat Tipo steps up

One year ago: Italy May 2016: Crossovers continue to lift market up 28%

Full May 2017 Top 45 brands and Top 50 models below.