Italy November 2022: Dacia Sandero up to #2, sales up 14.7%

The Dacia Sandero is up to a record 2nd place in Italy. Picture quattroruote.it

New car sales in Italy continue to recover at +14.7% to 119,853 units in November. The year-to-date tally remains frankly in negative at -11.6% or 160,000 units less than a year ago to 1,211,769. Disappointingly, private sales go against the market at -0.2% to 68,316 sales and 56.2% share vs. 64.1% a year ago. Self registrations are also down at -7.3% to 9,414 and 7.7% share vs. 9.5% in November 2021, while long term leases soar 62.8% to 32,629 and 26.8% share vs. 18.8% last year. Short term rentals are even more impressive at +164.7% year-on-year but remain at a modest level at 2.7% of the market vs. 1.2% in 2021.  Company sales follow the market at +14.1% to 7,911 units and a stable 6.5% share. Year-to-date, private sales tumble down -17% to 722,183 and 58.8% share vs. 62.8% over the same period a year ago, self registrations are hit even harder at -23.1% to 103,640 and 8.4% share vs. 9.7% but long term leases gain 13.9% to 276,027 and 22.5% share vs. 17.5% last year. Short term rentals also lose more ground than the market at -17.2% to 51,114 and 4.2% share vs. 4.5% and company sales edge down -2.5% to 75,417 and 6.1% share vs. 5.6%.

Over in the powertrain sections, petrol follows the market at +14% to 32,667 sales and 26.9% share vs. 26.8% in November 2021, Diesel is also up for once at +9.2% to 22,102 and 18.2% share vs. 19%, LPG surges 38% to 13,620 and 11.2% share vs. 9.2%, HEV gains 22.2% to 40,895 and 33.6% share vs. 31.3%, that includes 11,140 full hybrids (+17.7%) and 29,755 mild hybrids (+0.2%). PHEV is up 17.8% to 6,598 and 5.5% share vs. 5.3% last year and EVs disappoint at a very harsh -25.9% to 5,162 sales and 4.2% share vs. 6.5% a year ago. Year-to-date, petrol skids -18.1% to 339,527 and 27.6% share vs. 29.9% over the same period a year ago, diesel sinks -22.4% to 244,665 and 19.9% share vs. 22.7% but LPG gains 8% to 108,649 and 8.8% share vs. 7.3%. HEV is up 4.3% to 417,932 sales and 34% share vs. 28.9% in 2021, including 110,373 full hybrids (+17.7%) and 307,559 mild hybrids (+0.2%). PHEV edges down -2.5% to 62,470 and 5.1% share vs. 4.6% and EV implodes -26.7% to 44,942 and 3.7% share vs. 4.4% in 2021.

The new DR 6.0 cracks the Italian Top 50 for the first time at #35.

In the brands ranking, home-grown behemoth Fiat (-7.8%) underperforms again, falling to its third lowest ever market share at 11.7%. The only two months it fared worse was last month (11.5%) and during Covid-19 disrupted March 2020 (9.9%). Volkswagen (+11.3%) can’t quite match the market but reclaims its traditional 2nd spot off Toyota (+41.9%) still euphoric after a record-breaking month of October and breaking its volume record again at over 9,100 units. Dacia (+13.6%) shoots up six spots on October to land in 4th place for the 2nd time this year after last June, its 2nd best Italian ranking below the #3 it hit back in September 2021. Peugeot (+30.7%) and most spectacularly Audi (+83.9%) also impress just below. Kia (+16.9%) cracks the Top 10 for the first time in a year (since November 2021) and just beats the market as does Ford (+15.5%) whereas Jeep (+10%) and Renault (-10.8%) fall short. Outside the Top 10, notice MG (+321.1%), Maserati (+241.3%), Lynk & Co (+206.3%), DR Motor (+184.9%), Tesla (+152.4%), Ferrari (+74.4%), Lamborghini (+73.3%), Skoda (+70%), Alfa Romeo (+66.3%) and DS (+62.7%) all posting fantastic year-on-year gains. 

Model-wise, the Fiat Panda (+0.9%) only edges up but remains ultra dominant at 7.4% share vs. 8% year-to-date. The Dacia Sandero (+37.5%) lodges a splendid month and climbs 6 spots on October to a record #2, a ranking it also hit in June 2021 and June 2022. As a result it steps up to #4 year-to-date vs. #8 over the Full Year 2021. The Lancia Ypsilon (+12.3%) is knocked down to #3 but holds relatively well given its age. The Toyota Yaris (+578.6%) compensates for a particularly weak year-ago volume and is up five ranks on last month to #4. The VW T-Cross (+89.4%) also stuns, up 9 spots to #5 above the Fiat 500 (-1.5%) a little pushy this month but still #3 year-to-date. The Ford Puma (+129.1%) and Jeep Renegade (+33%) also post sizeable gains in the remainder of the Top 10. The Toyota Aygo X (#14) is by far the best-selling recent launch in Italy while the new DR 6.0 makes its first appearance in the Top 50 directly at #35, joining the DR 4.0 (#26). The MG ZS (#42) scores a second straight month among the 50 best-selling models in the country after ranking #23 last month.

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

One year ago: Italy November 2021: Toyota Yaris Cross up to #7, sales down -24%

Full November 2022 Top 45 brands and Top 50 models below.