Italy October 2022: Toyota breaks all records in market up 14.6%

The Toyota Yaris Cross (#7) helps Toyota reach record heights in Italy.

New car sales in Italy confirm they are back in positive in October at +14.6% to 115,827 registrations. As it has been the case for the past few months, this performance has to be compared with October 2021 which was down a daunting -35.7% over the year prior, so we are staying at historical low levels for now. The year-to-date volume remains frankly in negative at -13.8% to 1,091,894 units. Looking at distribution channel, private sales edge up 1.1% to 68,458 and 58.2% share vs. 65.9% in October 2021 and are down a drastic -18.5% YTD to 653,839 and 59.1% share vs. 62.7% over the same period a year ago. Self registrations are up 5.8% for the month to 9,690 and down -24.4% YTD to 94,224. Long term leases soar 55.9% to 28,627 and 24.4% share for the month vs. 17.9% a year ago and are up 9.1% year-to-date to 242,528 and 21.9% share vs. 17.4% in 2021. Short term rentals are up a blasting 155.6% to 2,991 and 2.5% share vs. 1.1% last year, but are down -19.6% so far in 2022 to 48,669 and 4.4% share vs. 4.7% a year ago. Finally company sales are up 22.1% to 7,765 in October and down -4.2% to 67,465 YTD.

Looking at propulsion type, for once both petrol (+21.7%) and diesel (+18.4%) outrace the market. Petrol sales amount to 32,234 for a 27.4% share vs. 25.8% a year ago and diesel sales total 22,004 and 18.7% share vs. 18.1% in October 2021. Year-to-date however, petrol falls -20.5% to 306,845 and 27.7% share vs. 30.2% last year and diesel skids -24.6% to 222,515 and 20.1% share vs. 23.1% a year ago. LPG shoots up 30.5% for the month to 10,363 and 8.8% share vs. 7.7% in October 2021 and is up 4.7% YTD to 95,030 and 8.6% share vs. 7.1%. HEV is up 18.3% to 42,646 and 36.3% share vs. 35.1% last year. This includes 11,589 full hybrids (+37.5%) and 31,057 mild hybrids (+12.5%). Year-to-date, HEV are up 2.7% to 377,003 and 34.1% share vs. 28.7% over the same period in 2021, including 99,225 full hybrids (+17.2%) and 277,778 mild hybrids (-1.7%). PHEV are up 17.4% to 6,116 for the month and down -4.5% to 55,770 year-to-date. Finally BEV post the disappointment of the month at -48.1% to 3,695 and 3.1% share vs. 6.9% a year ago and are down -26.8% YTD to 39,780 and 3.6% share vs. 4.2% in 2021, in contrast with most other European markets.

The Lynk & Co 01 signs its first Top 50 finish in Italy.

Over in the brands aisle, Fiat (-21.5%) goes completely against its home market to lodge a meagre 11.5% share, its second lowest in history after the 9.9% hit in Covid-19 disrupted March 2020. In contrast, Toyota (+55.9%) surges ahead to a record 2nd place, also breaking its record share at 7.8% (previous best 7.4% in July and September 2022). It is also believed to reach an all time high volume just above 9,000 sales (previous best 8,962 in September 2020)… Volkswagen (+12.9%) can’t quite match the market growth and recedes to third place. Ford (+46.8%) is in great shape at #4, distancing a very shy Renault (+1.7%). Audi (+82.1%), Citroen (+43.8%), Jeep (+32.9%) and Peugeot (+15.3%) also beat the market in the remainder of the Top 10 while Dacia (-5.8%) endures a rare year-on-year drop. Further down, DR Motor (+196.8%), Skoda (+111.4%), Mini (+56.2%), Opel (+37.6%), BMW (+25.4%), Mercedes (+21.5%) and Lancia (+21.2%) stand out in the remainder of the Top 20 while among smaller brands Chinese MG (+958.6%) and Lynk & Co (+340.8%) storm up, Alfa Romeo (+116.6%) enjoys the added sales of the new Tonale (#44) and Cupra (+66.3%) maintains itself above sister brand Seat (-14.1%).

Model-wise, without surprise the Fiat Panda (-25.1%) holds onto the top spot, selling 2.3 times the amount of any other car in the market and this despite a drastic year-on-year fall. The Lancia Ypsilon (+21.5%) stays at the 2nd place it also holds year-to-date while the Jeep Renegade (+89.8%) almost doubles its sales year-on-year to climb to #3, its highest ranking since March 2021 (also #3). The Citroen C3 (+23.2%) stays in fourth position above the Fiat 500 (-11.2%) down two spots on September to #5. The Ford Puma (+811.6%) catches up on a stock-deprived October 2021 but remains in 6th place, a ranking it also holds year-to-date. The rest of the Top 10 all outpace the market, with the Toyota Yaris (+127.9%) in the best shape above the Toyota Yaris Cross (+64.6%), Renault Clio (+32.4%) and Dacia Sandero (+32.1%). The new Toyota Aygo X slips out of the Top 10 at #11 while the DR 4.0 is up three ranks to #16. We have two newcomers in the Top 50: the MG ZS landing directly at #23 with 1.1% share and the Lynk & Co 01 at #41.

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

One year ago: Italy October 2021: Fiat Panda hits highest market share in 32 years, Toyota Yaris Cross up to #15, market down -35.7%

Full Top 45 all brands and Top 50 models below.