Italy August 2022: +9.9% uptick marks end of 13 months of decline, DR 5.0 in Top 10

The DR 5.0 ranks #10 in Italy in August.

After 13 consecutive months of decline, the Italian new car market finally lodges a gain in August at +9.9% to 71,190 registrations. The year-to-date tally is however almost 200,000 sales below that of the same period last year at 865,044 vs. 1,060,373 in 2021, a steep -18.4% year-on-year fall. Worryinglee, sales to private customers go against the general trend with a -8.4% drop to 41,248 units and 57.3% share vs. 68.9% a year ago. Self-registrations soar 31.3% to 6,777 and 9.4% share vs. 7.9%, long term leases surge 69.2% to 16,910 and 23.5% share vs. 15.3%, short term rentals are equally euphoric at +73.4% to 3,156 and 4.4% share vs. 2.8% a year ago. Company sales are up 17.2% to 3,951 and 5.5% share vs. 5.2%.

Petrol sales bounce back up 17.7% to 19,204 units and 26.7% share vs. 24.9% in August 2021 but are down -26.7% YTD to 244,030 and 27.8% vs. 31.1% over the same period in 2021. Diesel is down -7.4% to 13,079 and 18.2% share vs. 21.6% and off -29.9% YTD to 179,498 and 20.5% share vs. 23.9% in 2021.  LPG edges down -1.1% to 6,268 but is up 2.8% YTD to 74,895 and 8.5% share vs. 6.8% in 2021. HEV is up 36.3% to 28,079 and 39% share v. 31.5% a year ago, including 6,177 full hybrid (+18.5%) and 21,902 mild hybrid (+42.4%). Year-to-date, HEV is down -1.3% to 294,118 and 33.5% share vs. 27.8% in 2021. In contrast PHEV is down -16.1% for the month to 2,721 and 3.8% share vs. 5% and down -5.1% YTD to 45,188 and 5.2% share vs. 4.4% a year ago. Similarly BEV goes completely against the market with a -29.2% freefall to just 2,304 units and 3.2% share vs. 5% in 2021 and -20% YTD to 31,007 units and 3.5% share vs. 3.6% last year.

Lancia Ypsilon sales are up 37.6% year-on-year in August.

In the brands ranking, leader Fiat (+14.8%) beats its home market to 15.1% share vs. 14.4% so far this year. Volkswagen (-0.6%) edges into negative territory but remains in the 2nd place it also holds YTD. Ford (+19.6%) is up two spots on July to land at #3, distancing Toyota (+11.8%) and Peugeot (+29.8%). In fact the rest of the Top 9 outpaces the market with Citroen (+93%), Audi (+41.2%), Lancia (+37.6%) and Dacia (+16.8%) all in great shape. Renault (-38.8%) is the odd one out and falls six ranks on last month to #10. Below, DR Motor (+439.7%) continues to surge ahead, up to a record #15 (previous best #19) and smashing its share record to 2.9% vs. 1.7% as a previous high last June. Opel (+31.1%), Skoda (+34.5%), Mini (+32.5%), Alfa Romeo (+71.2%), Cupra (+61.3%) and Land Rover (+38.1%) also post sensational year-on-year lifts. Chinese newcomers MG (+811.6%) and Lynk & Co (+720.6%) both break their ranking record at #28 and #30 respectively. 

Model-wise, the Fiat Panda (+67.2%) soars to its best market share since last May at 7.2%, followed like last month by the Fiat 500 (+43.9%) now #3 year-to-date. The Lancia Ypsilon (+37.6%) at #3 ensures the podium is 100% Italian like year-to-date and for the first time since last May. In fact the entire Top 8 outpaces the market with large gains. The Ford Puma (+44%) rallies back up 12 spots on July to #4, the Citroen C3 (+249.1%) and Peugeot 208 (+207.4%) follow, both tripling their volume year-on-year. The Dacia Sandero (+38.5%) and VW T-Roc (+32.5%) also shine. Low volumes often trigger surprises in the models ranking and this month is no different: the DR 5.0, a rebadged Chery Tiggo 5x, is up 23 ranks on last month to spectacularly break into the Top 10 at #10. As a reminder DR Motor is an importer of Chinese vehicles in Italy, mainly Chery and JAC models. The 5.0 is the first Chinese car to rank inside the Top 10 in Italy. The Toyota Yaris Cross (#12) remains the most popular recent launch in the country. Note also that with 279 sales, the Lynk & Co 01 is the best-selling PHEV in Italy in August and #4 year-to-date.

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

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

Full August 2022 Top 45 all brands and Top 50 models below.