Italy January 2018: Fiat 500X repeats at #2, Jeep Compass soars to #11

The Fiat 500X is the 2nd best-seller at home for the 2nd month running.

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

The Italian new car market is up 3.4% to 179.167 registrations in January, with company and rental sales the sole responsible for the year-on-year gain: private sales plunge 6.3% to 102.168 and 57% share vs. 63% a year ago whereas business sales shoot up 25.7% to 36.126 and 20.2% share vs. 16.6% in January 2017 and rental sales leap up 15.5% to 40.873 and 22.8% share vs. 20.4%. Short term rentals are up 26.2% to 16.379 and 9.1% share vs. 7.5% in 2017 while long term rentals, or leases, are up 9.3% to 24.494 and 13.7% share vs. 12.9%. Continuing a trend that goes against the rest of Europe, diesel sales are on the up in Italy at +3.8% to 98.988 units and 55.2% share whereas petrol sales are down 0.2% to 58.353 and 32.6% share. GPL is down 2% to 11.203, hybrids are up 51.1% to 7.154, methane sales are up 3.5% to 3.209 and electric vehicles are up 38.3% to a meagre 260 units. Sedans+hatches drop a harsh 8.1% to 88.885 and fall below 50% of the market at 49.6% vs. 55.8% a year ago whereas crossovers soar 39.7% to 48.988 and 27.3% share vs. 20.2% a year ago. 4x4s are up 21.8% to 17.185 and station wagons down 4.4% to 10.942.

The Jeep Compass ends January just 51 sales off a first Top 10 ranking in Italy.

Brand-wise, homegrown market leader Fiat records a 6th consecutive month below 20% share at 19.4% and a fourth year-on-year decline in a row at -8%. Volkswagen (+1%) and Ford (-1%) hang onto their FY2017 positions at #2 and #3 respectively, both lodging stronger market shares. Peugeot nudges up one spot to #4 thanks to sales up a very robust 15% on January 2017, distancing Renault (-5%) while Jeep (+108%), Citroen (+24%) and Audi (+17%) also post very impressive gains inside the Top 10. Below, Porsche (+55%), Suzuki (+45%), Tesla (+45%), Nissan (+34%), Skoda (+34%), Mazda (+33%), Alfa Romeo (+28%), DR Motor (+24%), Land Rover (+23%), Jaguar (+20%) are among the most dynamic brands for January but Infiniti (-66%), Lancia (-27%), DS (-26%), Honda (-25%), Maserati (-21%), Subaru (-21%) and Smart (-19%) are the hardest hit.

The Ford Fiesta and Citroen C3 are the best-selling foreign nameplates in Italy in January.

The Fiat Panda remains the best-seller at home but drops a steep 25% year-on-year to 6.3% share. The Fiat 500X surges 83% on January 2017 and manages to stay at a record 2nd place overall for the second month running and ever. In third position, the Ford Fiesta (+28%) reclaims the title of best-selling foreigner it used to hold annually until 2012. It is the first time since October 2016 that the Fiesta is the #1 foreign nameplate in Italy. It distances the Citroen C3 (+40%), itself outselling the foreign leader of the past 4 years, the Renault Clio (-27%), for the 4th consecutive month. The Fiat Tipo (+16%) ranks 5th overall thanks mainly to its station wagon variant representing 39% of its January deliveries.

First Italian Top 50 ranking for the VW T-Roc. All pictures quattroruote.it 

After four months outside the Top 20, the Jeep Compass surges 22 spots to end January a mere 51 sales off a historical Top 10 outing at #11, distancing the Renegae (#13) for the first time. The Nissan Micra (+565%), Renault Kadjar (+102%), Dacia Duster (+65%), Peugeot 3008 (+61%), Ford Ka+ (+46%) and Opel Karl (+46%) post the largest year-on-year gains in the Top 50, while the Toyota C-HR breaks its ranking record at #26, the Opel Crossland X equals its highest ranking at #35 (also hit last October), the Alfa Romeo Stelvio records a third Top 50 ranking ever (after last July and November) and both the Citroen C3 Aircross (#38) and VW T-Roc (#46) break into the monthly Italian Top 50 for the very first time.

Previous post: Italy Full Year 2017: Fiat Tipo on podium in largest market this decade

One year ago: Italy January 2017: Fiat 500 up to 2nd place, Toyota and Citroen shine

Full January 2018 Top 45 All-brands and Top 50 models below.