Italy August 2021: Kia (+13.2%) only island of growth, Fiat 500 teases Panda for #1, sales off -27.1%

Kia is the only year-on-year gainer in the Top 25. Picture quattroruote.it

The Italian new car market accelerate its fall in August at -27.1% year-on-year to just 65.185 units, leading to a year-to-date tally up 31.1% to 1.069.875. Compared to the first 8 months of 2019, the Italian market is down a ghastly -19.7% or over 260.000 units. We at BSCB forecast a Full Year 2021 volume up 13% to 1.56 million units. Private sales fall even faster than the market this month at -29% to 44.955 and 69% share vs. 70.7% in August 2020, self registrations implode -47.5% to 5.126 and 7.9% share vs. 10.9% last year, while long-term leases contain their loss to just -5.5% to 9.758 and 15% share vs. 11.5% a year ago. Short-term rentals are actually up year-on-year at +5.2% to 2.088 and 3.2% share v. 2.2% in August 2020, while company sales drop -20.6% to 3.258 and 5% share vs. 4.6%. Year-to-date, private sales follow the market at +31.9% to 662.926 and 62% share vs. 61.6% over the same period in 2020, self-registrations gain 18.7% to 105.541 and 9.9% vs. 10.9% and long-term leases shine at +42.5% to 182.784 and 17.1% share vs. 15.7%. Short-term rentals are shy at +15.6% to 61.098 and 5.7% share vs. 6.5% while company sales slightly outpace the market at +33.5% to 57.526 and 5.4% share vs. 5.3% a year ago.

In terms of fuel source, petrol sinks -49.6% to 16.294 and 25% share vs. 36.1% in August 2020, diesel implodes -55.7% to 14.006 and 21.5% share vs. 35.3% and GPL is up 4.3% to 6.237 and 9.7% share vs. 6.8% last year. HEV soars 53.7% to 20.604 and 31.6% share vs. 15% a year ago, that includes 15.387 mild hybrid vehicles (MHEV), up 58.4%. PHEV surges 96.1% to 3.199 and 4.9% share vs. 1.8% in August 2020 and BEV gains 71.8% to 3.247 and 5% share vs. 2.1%. Year-to-date, petrol edges down -1.5% to 332.771 and 31.1% share vs. 41.4% over the same period in 2020, diesel drops -11.6% to 255.769 and 23.9% share vs. 35.5% a year ago and GPL is up 39.5% to 72.811 and 6.8% vs. 6.4%. Electrified vehicles surge ahead over the period: HEV is up 218.2% to 298.069 and 27.9% share vs. 11.5% last year, that includes 229.863 MHEV, up 272.6%. PHEV is up 397.5% to 47.421 and 4.4% share vs. 1.2% and BEV is up 187.8% to 38.744 and 3.6% share vs. 1.7% in 2020.

Brand-wise, Fiat (-23.7%) contains its fall somewhat but scores a low share at 14.4% vs. 15.5% so far this year, while its immediate followers Volkswagen (-34.3%) and Ford (-31.2%) both falter, albeit Ford up three spots on July to #3. Renault (-16%) resists well and is also up three ranks on last month to #4, distancing Toyota (-3.9%) – which delivers the best hold in the Top 6 – and Jeep (-24%). Up six spots on July to #7, Kia (+13.2%) is the only year-on-year gainer in the Top 25, hitting its highest Italian ranking since March 2020 (#5). Audi (-16.2%) also outpaces the market at #10 whereas Peugeot (-45.3%) and Dacia (-32%) dive. Beyond the Top 10, Suzuki (-6%), Lancia (-9%) and BMW (-10.9%) hold up well while further down DR (+39.3%), Tesla (+57.9%), Subaru (+23%), Maserati (+63.2%), Great Wall (+137.5%) and Ferrari (+22.7%) score rare year-on-year upticks.

Over in the models ranking, the Fiat Panda (-42.7%) holds onto the top spot by the skin of its teeth (namely 37 sales) above an extremely dynamic Fiat 500 (+87.4%). Interestingly, this generation of 500 has never managed to hold the monthly pole position at home, but it now advances to #2 year-to-date vs. #5 over the Full Year 2020. The MHEV variant accounts for 81% of Panda sales this month and 76% of 500 volumes while the 500 EV holds a 19% share and is the best-selling BEV in Italy both this month and year-to-date. The Lancia Ypsilon (-8.6%) is up one spot on July to return to the third place it now also holds YTD. It’s a very solid month for the Renault Captur (-0.3%) stable year-on-year and up 7 ranks on last month to #4, a new ranking record for the nameplate. The Ford Puma (-15%) is also strong and up four spots to #5, distancing the Jeep Renegade (-17.9%) while the Toyota Yaris (+102.6%) more than doubles its sales year-on-year but drops one spot on July to #7. Notice also the Audi Q5 (+90.3%), Kia Sportage (+28.4%), Kia Picanto (+20.8%), Peugeot 3008 (+14.6%), Suzuki Ignis (+3.5%) and Kia Stonic (#32) excelling further down.

Previous month: Italy July 2021: Market down -19.2%, Toyota (+6.5%), Jeep (-1.4%), Kia (+4.9%) resist

One year ago: Italy August 2020: Ford Puma surges to world record #4, Citroen, VW impress in stabilised market (-0.5%)

Full August 2021 Top 43 brands and Top 50 models below.