Italy October 2017: Citroen C3 hits highest ever ranking at #3

The last time the Citroen C3 nameplate ranked that high in Italy was over 13 years ago. Picture automoto.it

* See the Top 43 brands and Top 50 models by clicking on the title *

The Italian new car market is up 7% year-on-year in October to 159.835 registrations, a slightly lower rate than the year-to-date 8.6% improvement to 1.705.053 units. Once again private sales slow down the market with a meagre 4% gain to 92.707 and 58% share vs. 59.7% a year ago. In contrast, rental sales are up 13% to 29.743 units and 18.6% share vs. 17.6% a year ago, with short term rentals up 10.6% and long term up 13.8%. Company sales are up 10.1% to 37.385 and 23.4% share vs. 22.7% in October 2016. Year-to-date, company sales clearly pull the market up at +31.2% to 365.532 and 21.4% share vs. 17.8% over the same period a year ago, with rental sales also aggressively up at +17.8% to 382.957 and 22.5% share vs. 20.7% in 2016. Short term rentals are up 199% to 154.715 while long term are up 16.4% to 228.242. Private sales are actually in negative so far this year at -1% to 956.564 and 56.1% share vs. 61.5% a year ago.

One segment is pushing Italian sales into positive this month: crossovers up a striking 38.5% to 39.486 sales and 24.7% share vs. 19.1% in October 2016. “Berlines” (sedans and hatchbacks) are up just 0.4% to 80.902 and 50.6% vs. 53.9% a year ago. SUVs are up 7.4%, station wagons down 11.6%, small MPVs down 10.3% and compact MPVs up just 0.8%. Brand-wise, homegrown market leader Fiat is the only carmaker in negative in the Top 12 at -4% to 17.8% share, a full three percentage points below the 20.8% it holds so far this year. Volkswagen is up a timid 2% to 7.3% while Renault shoots up 28% to 6.5%, ahead of Ford down 0.03% to 6.3%. Hyundai (+17%), Peugeot (+18%), Toyota (+24%) and Citroen (+44%) all beat the market in the Top 10. Below, Seat (+21%), Skoda (+21%), Land Rover (+29%), Suzuki (+40%), Jeep (+48%) and Dacia (+48%) shine.

First Italian Top 5 ranking in almost five years for the Toyota Yaris. Picture quattroruote.it 

In the models ranking, the Fiat Panda manages to double the market growth at +14% to 8.3%, that’s three times the amount of the #2, the Lancia Ypsilon in difficulty at -18% but breathing a little better at #2 spot year-to-date now that the Fiat Tipo dives down to #14 overall in October (-13%) below the Punto… The Citroen C3 soars 80% on October 2016 and 10 spots on last month to land at an outstanding third place, the nameplate’s best ever monthly ranking in Italy, last hit over 13 years ago in July 2003, October 2003, May 2004 and June 2004. Although the C3 ranked #2 overall in the annual 2003 Italian charts, it never ranked higher than #3 in the monthly tables. Below the VW Golf up a strong 19% to #4, the Toyota Yaris posts the other high performance in the Top 10, up 17% to #5 which is its first Top 5 month in almost five years, since the #3 hit in December 2012. Over the past decade, this is only the 9th time the Yaris ranks among Italy’s five best-sellers, the others are: #2 in December 2007, #3 in December 2008 and December 2012, #4 in April 2008, #5 in July 2008, September 2008, March 2009 and October 2009.

Further down the ranking, notice also the Peugeot 208 up 20% to #7, the Renault Captur up 33% to #12, the Dacia Duster up 29% to #17, the Dacia Sandero up 65%, the VW Up up 107%, the Peugeot 3008 up 222%, the Ford Kuga up 109%, the Hyundai i10 up 43%, the Nissan Micra up 118%, the Renault Kadjar up 62%, the Renault Scenic up 4714%, the Ford B-Max up 65% and the Mercedes GLA up 35%. The Jeep Compass is up one spot to #23, comfortably leading all recent launches, ahead of the Opel Crossland X up 12 spots to #35 and the Toyota C-HR up  9 to #36. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio is back up to #52, missing a second Top 50 ranking for 37 sales.

Previous month: Italy September 2017: Nissan Micra shines in market up 7.9%

One year ago: Italy October 2016: Rental sales spruce market up 10%

Full October 2017 Top 43 brands and Top 50 models below.