Italy July 2022: Toyota (+24.9%), Citroen (+49.8%) impress, VW T-Roc on podium in stabilised market (-0.8%)

The VW T-Roc is at its highest since May 2020.

After six consecutive months of double-digit year-on-year losses, the Italian market stabilises in July at -0.8% to 109,580 registrations. However keep in mind July 2021 was down -19.2% on 2020 and -27.9% on 2019. The year-to-date tally is now off -20.3% on the same period in 2021 and down -35.8% on 2019 to 793,856 units. While the incentives for 65-135 g of CO2 km cars was rapidly used, those for 0-20 g / km and 21-60 g / km continues to be slow, one of the reason being the incentives are only available to private customers and not companies or rentals. At this rate, UNRAE predicts that by the end of the year 62% of the fund allocated to 0-20 g / km and 82% for the 21-60 g / km range, or a total of 300 million €, will remain unused.

Contradicting the allocation of incentives, private sales are down -9.2% year-on-year in July to 62,630 and 56.3% share vs. 61.7% a year ago, self-registrations off -18.7% to 9,402 and 8.5% vs. 10.3%, long term leases gain a spectacular 20.4% to 23,440 and 21.1% share vs. 17.4% last year, short-term rentals shoot up 75.4% to 8,726 and 7.8% share vs. 4.5% a year ago and company sales are up 2.7% to 7,017 and 6.3% share vs. 6.1%. Year-to-date, private sales sink -22.7% to 477,733 and 59.3% share vs. 61.5% last year, self-registrations are down -31.7% to 68,532 and 8.5% vs. 10%, long term leases edge down -3% to 170,436 and 21.2% share vs. 17.5% a year ago, short-term rentals drop -29.7% to 39,703 and 4.9% share vs. 5.6% in 2021.

Citroen sales are up 49.8% year-on-year in June.

For once petrol sales gain 8.9% year-on-year in July to 33,200 units and 29.9% share vs. 27.3% a year ago, diesel drops -10.1% to 22,967 and 20.7% share vs. 22.8% last year and LPG edges down -6.2% to 8,769 and 7.9% share vs. 8.4%. HEV sales jump +12.4% to 36,841 and 33.1% share vs. 29.3% a year ago including 10,760 full hybrids (+40%) and 26,072 mild hybrids (+4%). In contrast PHEV is down -19.2% to 5,133 and BEV hits a wall at -29.2% to 3,617 units. Year-to-date, petrol is down -29% to 224,812 and 27.9% share vs. 31.5% over the same period last year, diesel is off -31.3% to 166,322 and 20.7% vs. 24.1% and LPG is actually up 3.2% to 68,625. HEV edges down -4.1% to 266,019 and 33.1% share vs. 29.3% last year, including 71,216 full hybrids (+13.1%) and 194,803 mild hybrids (-9.1%). PHEV is down -4.3% to 42,465 and 5.3% share vs. 4.4% in 2021 and BEV is down -19.1% to 28,703 and 3.6% share vs. 3.5% a year ago.

In the brands ranking, both Fiat (-6.9%) and Volkswagen (-7.2%) underperform to 14% and 9% share respectively. This is however better than the 13.2% share Fiat commanded in June and better than the 8.1% Volkswagen held last month. Toyota (+24.9%) scores the biggest year-on-year gain in the Top 7 and climbs two spots on June to land on the third step of the podium. Renault (+12.1%) and Dacia (+12%) are also up while Peugeot (-14.8%) and Ford (-1.9%) both decelerate, yet Ford gains 7 ranks on last month to #5. Citroen (+49.8%) is the best performer in the Top 10 but drops two spots on May to #8. Audi (-4.8%) and most strikingly Jeep (-32.1%) close out the Top 10 weakly. Below, Opel (+11.2%), DR Motor (+160.8%), Alfa Romeo (+53.7%), Cupra (+50.7%) and Porsche (+56.3%) shine while the two Chinese newcomers MG (+540.7%) and Lynk & Co (+1078.1%) fly off on launch sales a year ago.

The Fiat Panda remains the best-selling vehicle in Italy.

Model-wise, the Fiat Panda (-1.3%) easily holds onto the pole position but sees its market share thaw to 6.5% vs. 8.4% so far this year. The Fiat 500 (-9.7%) is up one spot on June to end the month at #2 while the VW T-Roc (+72%) is up 8 to close out the podium. This is the T-Roc’s best ranking in Italy since hitting #2 in May 2020. The Citroen C3 (+205.7%) is up four ranks to #4, distancing the Lancia Ypsilon (-1.3%) still #2 year-to-date. The Fiat 500X (-0.5%) leaps from #10 to #6 in the YTD charts. The Peugeot 208 (+96.6%) also impresses in the remainder of the Top 10 where the Dacia Sandero (+1%) and Renault Captur (+1.2%) post timid gains. The Toyota Yaris Cross is once again the best-selling recent launch in Italy at #11 above the Toyota Aygo X up a record #15 and the VW Taigo at #25.

Previous month: Italy June 2022: Dacia (+33.7%), Peugeot (+18.5%) impress in market down another  -15%

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

Full July 2022 Top 45 All-brands and Top 50 models below.