Italy May 2018: Jeep breaks records – Renegade on podium, Compass #7

The Jeep Renegade lifts its ranking record from #7 to #3 in May.

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The Italian new car market goes against most of the rest of Europe in 2018, positing a third year-on-year decline in the past four months at -2.8% to 200.157 registrations. This pulls the YTD volume back into negative territory at -0.3% to 951.734. A piece of good news though: private sales resist much better at +0.6% to 112.731 units and 56.3% share vs. 54.4% YTD. In contrast rental sales are down 1.9% to 50.978 and 25.5% share with short-term rentals sinking the segment at -15.5% to 17.356 and 8.7% share vs. 10% a year ago while long-term rentals (leases) are down 4.7% to 27.859 and 13.9% share. This does not add up, with Unrae creating a new “other rentals” category for the month, up 163.4% year-on-year to 5.763. Finally company sales dive 13.1% to 36.448 and 18.2% share vs. 20.4% a year ago.

The Compass lifts its record from #11 to #7, helping Jeep up 130%. Picture motori.it

The year-to-date picture is a lot different, with private sales pulling the entire market down at -6% to 507.959 and 53.4% share vs. 56.6% over the same period a year ago whereas rental sales gain 9% to 258.310 and 27.1% share vs. 24.8% (short-term down 3.7% to 99.460, long-term up 11.3% to 137.375 and others up 111.6% to 21.475) and company sales are up 4.6% to 185.465 and 19.5% share vs. 18.6% in 2017. Contrary to the majority of the rest of Europe, diesel sales remain dominant in Italy even though they drop 10.1% in May to 103.527 units and 51.7% share vs. 55.8% in May 2017, down 4.2% YTD to 515.005 and 54.1% vs. 56.3%. Petrol sales are up 3.1% to 70.508 and 35.2% share vs. 33.2% this month, but up just 1.3% to 319.537 and 33.6% YTD. GPL sales, particularly strong in Italy, are down 3.5% in May to 12.366 and 6.2% share and 3.7% YTD to 57.319. Hybrid sales gain 12.3% to 7.756 vs. +31.8% YTD to 36.415 and pure electrics are up 298.7% to a still tiny 594, up 121.5% YTD to 1.794.

The Renault Clio posts a second consecutive month at a record 2nd place.

Over in the brands ranking, market leader Fiat continues its descent to hell, lodging an 8th year-on-year decline in a row and the 6th double-digit drop in the past 7 months at a ghastly -23% to 17.7% share, the 6th time in the past 8 months that it falls below 18%. Volkswagen on the other hand is up a splendid 21% to 9% share (+16% YTD) to cement its 2nd place, ahead of Renault (+5%) but Ford (-8%), Peugeot (-1%) and Opel (-4%) all lose ground. Jeep is however the hero of the month, breaking its ranking (#7), volume (9.885) and share (5%) all-time records in Italy thanks to deliveries up a whopping 130% on May 2017 when it only held 2.1% of the market. The rest of the Top 16 is all in negative. Further down, notice DR Motor (+342%), Mahindra (+170%), Lexus (+70%), Jaguar (+43%), Mitsubishi (+28%), Volvo (+28%), Seat (+27%), Ferrari (+15%) and Suzuki (+13%).

First Italian Top 50 for the Kia Stonic.

There’s quite a few record performances in the Italian models ranking this month. Below the untouchable Fiat Panda (-7%), the Renault Clio manages a second consecutive month – and ever, according to our files – in 2nd place despite dropping 10% year-on-year. The Jeep Renegade surges 33% to brilliantly climb onto the monthly podium for the first time ever, smashing its previous best of #7 hit last month and in December 2017. The Renegade also breaks its share (2.9%) and volume (5.101) records. Same outstanding performance for the Jeep Compass breaking into the monthly Italian Top 10 for the very first time at #7 (previous best #11 last January) with a record 4.493 sales (pb 3.879 last March) and 2.2% share (pb 2.1% last January).

The VW T-Roc is up to a best-ever #21 this month in Italy.

In contrast the Fiat Tipo (-43%), 500 (-42%), 500X (-15%) and 500L (-13%) all falter. Further down, the Renault Twingo (+91%), Renault Captur (+66%), Audi Q3 (+54%), Toyota Aygo (+48%), Alfa Romeo Giulietta (+40%), Ford Focus (+40%), Peugeot 3008 (+34%), Peugeot 308 (+32%), Ford Ecosport (+24%), Opel Karl (+23%) and VW Tiguan (+22%) all post spectacular gains. Among recent launches (<12 months), the VW T-Roc is up 5 spots on April to a new record #21, the Citroen C3 Aircross is stuck at #29, the Opel Crossland X is down 4 to #36 and the Kia Stonic breaks into the Top 50 for the first time at #50.

Previous month: Italy April 2018: Renault Clio hits highest ever #2 in market up 6.4%

One year ago: Italy May 2017: Fiat Tipo settles in 2nd place

Full May 2018 Top 45 brands and Top 50 models below.