Italy September 2022: Toyota Aygo X in Top 10, market up 5.4%

The Toyota Aygo X scores its first Top 10 finish in Italy.

Italian new car sales are in positive for the second straight month in September at +5.4% year-on-year to 110,976 units. However keep in mind September 2021 sales were down -32.5% on the year prior so we remain at historical low levels. The horrendous first half the market has endured means the YTD tally remains down a stiff -16.3% or 190,000 sales to 976,055. Private sales (-6.3%) are weak this month to 66,516 and 59.1% vs. 66.6% a year ago and fall -20.3% YTD to 585,359 and 59.2% vs. 62.4% over the same period in 2021. Self-registrations drop -7.3% to 9,270 and -26.8% to 84,565 year-to-date. Long term leases soar 44.9% to 26,427 and 23.5% share vs. 17.1% in 2021 and are now up 4.9% YTD at 213,829 and 21.6% share vs. 17.3%. Short-term rentals do even better at +184.1% to 3,060 but remain off -22.9% to 45,773 YTD. Company sales are strong at +16.2% to 7,289 for the month but down -6.8% to 59,700 YTD.

In terms of fuel/propulsion, petrol gains an impressive 15.1% year-on-year this month to 30,647 and 27.2% share vs. 25% in September 2021 but is down -23.6% to 274,591 YTD. Diesel beats the market for once at +6.6% to 21,749 and 19.3% share vs. 19.1% however it is off a drastic -27.5% YTD to 200,579. LPG edges down -2.2% for the month to 9,770 but is up 2.2% YTD to 84,666. HEV surges 20.8% to 40,231 and 35.7% share in September vs. 31.3% a year ago and tilts into positive YTD at +0.9% to 334,340. The HEV September total includes 10,251 full hybrids (+27.2%) and 29,980 mild hybrids (+18.1%). Full hybrids are up 15% YTD to 87,634 whereas mild hybrids drop -3.3% to 246,706. Finally for the big surprise of the month: BEV freefalls -40.1% year-on-year to 5,088 sales and 4.5% share vs. 8% a year ago, meaning it is now down -23.6% YTD to 36,090 and 3.6% vs. 4% over the same period in 2021.

Ford Puma sales are up 62.7% year-on-year in September.

In the brands ranking, national favourite Fiat (+8.2%) beats its home market again but only manages a weak 12.9% share vs. 14.2% so far this year. Volkswagen (-11.7%) goes against the general positive trend with a significant loss and holds onto the 2nd place for a little less than 100 sales above Toyota (+47.7%) in outstanding shape this month. Ford (-2%) drops one spot on August to #4 and is followed by Renault (-12.2%) in difficulty again. The next three carmakers all post stellar gains: Audi (+65.8%), Mercedes (+58%) and Citroen (+36.7%) vastly outrace the market. At #9, Dacia (-34%) suffers from a high year-ago comparison base when it ranked at a record #3. Peugeot (-0.3%) is down 5 ranks on last month to round out the Top 10 in lukewarm fashion. Below, DR Motor (+249.9%) scores its second highest ranking at #17 (highest was #15 last month), while Skoda (+120.1%) also impresses. Cupra (+173.6%) now sells 70% more than sister brand Seat (-44.7%). Chinese newcomers MG (+849%) and Lynk & Co (+55.2%) continue to gear up.

Model-wise, the Fiat Panda (+9.3%) continues to cruise along in pole position, it is followed this month by the Lancia Ypsilon (+25.6%) returning to the 2nd spot it holds year-to-date. The Fiat 500 (+21.7%) is down to #3 above the Citroen C3 (+43.1%) in outstanding shape this month. The Dacia Sandero (-9.5%) rounds out the Top 5 with a loss correlated to a high year-ago volume. The Ford Puma (+62.7%) and Toyota Yaris (+40.5%) also score stellar gains in the remainder of the Top 10. A Top 10 that the new Toyota Aygo X breaks into for the very first time at #8. Below, the Toyota Yaris Cross (+175.3%) celebrates one year in market at #11, with the Fiat 500X (+66.5%), Nissan Qashqai (+71.1%), DR 4.0 (#19), Mercedes GLA (+1765.1%!) and VW Tiguan (+70.4%) also very lively. The Alfa Romeo Tonale breaks into its home Top 50 for the first time.

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

One year ago: Italy September 2021: Dacia scores first ever podium finish, Spring up to #11, market hit -32.5%

Full September 2022 Top 45 all-brands and Top 50 models below.