Italy July 2019: Fiat sinks to lowest-ever share for 5th time in 12 months at 13.1%, Dacia up 53.6%, Sandero at highest ever #4

Fiat Tipo sales are down -53.4% at home in July despite a recent facelift.

New registrations in Italy edge down just -0.3% year-on-year in June to 153.535 units, leading to a year-to-date tally down -3.3% to 1.240.642. As we have observed in both France and Spain already, this is actually a solid result given July 2018 sales were artificially propped up by pre-WLTP stock clearances. Sales this month are up 4.8% on July 2017 which is a more realistic comparison set. Even more encouraging is the strength of private sales up a very sturdy 7.2% year-on-year to 94.219 and 61.4% share vs. 57% in July 2018, while rental sales also gain ground at +2.3% to 27.848 and 18.1% share vs. 17.7% including 21.462 leases (+2.5%) and 2.913 short-term rentals (-5.3%). Company sales are the sole responsible for the overall market drop at -19.3% to 31.468 and 20.5% share vs. 25.3% a year ago.

The year-to-date distribution is similar with private sales up 1.5% to 704.469 and 56.8% share vs. 54.1% over the same period in 2018, rental sales up 1% to 328.887 and 26.5% vs. 25.4% including 183.016 leases (-0.3%) and 121.818 short-term (+3.8%) while company sales dive -21.2% to 207.286 and 16.7% share vs. 20.5%. Petrol sales gain 35.1% for the month to 68.829 and 44.8% share vs. 33.1% in July 2018 while diesel registrations freefall -27.5% to 57.068 and 37.2% share vs. 51.1%, GPL is up 12.6% to 14.069, hybrids up 8.8% to 8.701 and EVs up 45.7% to 940. Year-to-date, petrol is up 25.8% to 539.306 and 43.5% vs. 33.4% over the same period last year, diesel is down -24.2% to 521.110 and 42% vs. 53.6%, GPL up 6.4% to 86.691 and 7%, hybrids up 27.1% to 66.828 and EVs up 103.8% to 5.912.

The Sandero is up 78% to a record #4, helping Dacia up 53.6%.

Brand-wise, Fiat’s tumbling descent into hell unfortunately shows now sign of abating: the once-mighty Italian carmaker implodes -24.3%, marking a 15th double-digit fall in the past 17 months. More significantly Fiat falls to its lowest-ever market share for the 2nd consecutive month and the third time this year at 13.1%. We only need to look back two years to understand the gravity of the situation: in August 2017, Fiat fell below 20% share at home for the first time in two years at 19.9%. It then dropped to its then lowest-ever share in November 2017 (16.5%) and has lowered this black mark a further 6 times since: in June 2018 (16%), August 2018 (15.5%), September 2018 (15%), January 2019 (14.8%), June 2019 (13.5%) and July 2019 (13.1%)… Bar the Panda (+37.9%) benefiting from the discontinuation of the Punto, all Fiat models come crashing down this month: the Tipo (-53.4%), 500X (-38.2%), 500L (-35.7%) and 500 (-34.7%) all lost over one-third of their July 2018 volumes. As a result, Fiat is now just 3.7 percentage points above Volkswagen (+11.7%) in excellent shape at #2 and 9.4%.

Dacia (+53.6%) aligns a 5th consecutive double-digit gain and is the largest gainer in the Top 15 for the 5th straight month, stuck at a record 7th place for the past 4 months and a record 5% share for the past two. It seems nothing can stop the low-cost brand’s progression in Italy. Opel (+17.6%) and Peugeot (+13.8%) are the other double-digit gainers in the Top 10 where Citroen (+7.6%) and Jeep (+3.3%) also defy the negative market. Seat (+69.4%), Skoda (+61.4%), Suzuki (+49.6%), Lancia (+24.9%), Audi (+16.1%) and Mercedes (+12.5%) all post stellar results in the Top 20 whereas Alfa Romeo (-55.8%), Nissan (-12.3%)  and Renault (-16.6%) pay the price of artificially-boosted sales a year ago. Among smaller brands, DR Motor (+337.1%) reaches its largest ever volume, share and ranking in Italy at 612 sales, 0.4% and #31, with Tesla (+943.8%), DS (+50.5%), Ferrari (+38.3%), Land Rover (+37.2%), Lexus (+32.3%), Lamborghini (+23.7%), Mitsubishi (+23.2%), Jaguar (+17.9%), Mazda (+15.5%) and Mini (+12%) also making waves.

The T-Cross is now Volkswagen’s 2nd best-seller in Italy below the T-Roc.

In the models ranking, below the Fiat Panda the Lancia Ypsilon (+24.9%) and Jeep Renegade (+35.5%) also sport fantastic results, but none better than the Dacia Sandero (+78%) shooting up 3 spots on June to a new record 4th place, smashing its previous best of #6 established in November 2018. The Citroen C3 (+9.4%) returns to the #6 spot it holds year-to-date, the Dacia Duster (+25.4%) is down two to #7, meaning there are two Dacias in the Italian monthly Top 7 for the second month in history and in a row. The VW T-Roc (+78.6%) for its part stretches its consecutive run of Top 10 finishes to 7 months, confirming it is the only VW capable of being so regular at the top in Italy. Below, the VW T-Cross is up 5 spots to a new record #15, becoming the brand’s 2nd best-seller below the T-Roc and outselling the Polo for the first time. The Kia Stonic makes a 2nd ever appearance in the Top 50 at a record #37, the Opel Grandland X a 3rd one at a record #41 and the Ford Ka+ (+78.8%), Mercedes A-Class (+77.2%), Hyundai i10 (+73%), Toyota Aygo (+53%), Opel Karl (+51.9%), Opel Crossland X (+49.5%), Peugeot 2008 (+41.9%) and Renault Kadjar (+38.4%) post the largest upticks in the remainder of the Top 50.

Previous post: Italy First Half 2019: Dacia Duster shoots up to #4, T-Roc is VW’s best-seller at #8 in market down -3.8%

Previous month: Italy June 2019: Fiat falls to lowest ever share (13.5%), Dacia surges, Jeep Renegade up to record #2

One year ago: Italy July 2018: Jeep (+103%), Alfa Romeo (+45%) stir FCA up despite Fiat (-10%), Lancia (-19%)

Full July 2019 Top 45 All-brands and Top 50 models below.