Italy May 2023: Fiat down to lowest ever share, Jeep Avenger up to #12

The Avenger is Jeep’s best-seller in Italy this month.

New car sales in Italy rise 23.1% year-on-year in May to 149,411 units, leading to a year-to-date tally up 26.1% to 702,339. However, worryingly private sales trail the market significantly at +11.5% to 81,062 and 53.5% share vs. 59.2% a year ago, and up 11.4% year-to-date to 380,355 and 53.5% share vs. 60.5% over the same period in 2022. Long term leases soar 33.8% to 38,136 and 25.2% share vs. 23.2% share last year and up an even more impressive 55.3% to 183,6790 and 25.8% share vs. 21%. Short terms rentals surge 47.3% to 11,144 and 7.4% share vs. 6.2% in May 2022 and are up 103.4% YTD to 44,834 and 6.3% share vs. 3.9%. Company sales are up 28.3% to 8,483 and up 20.8% YTD to 40,090. 

As far as sales by propulsion, petrol is up 24% to 43,268 and 28.6% share vs. 28.4% last year and up 28.4% YTD to 197,752 and 27.8% share vs. 27.3%. Surprisingly, diesel beats the market at +23.7% in May to 29,497 units and 19.5% vs. 19.4% a year ago and up 20.3% YTD to 139,405. LPG rises 32.8% to 12,752 sales and 8.4% share vs. 7.8% in May 2022 and is up 32.7% YTD to 62,922. HEV are up 27.7% to to 52,548 and 34.7% share vs. 33.5% a year ago. This includes 15,576 full hybrids (+57.7%) and 36,972 model hybrids (+18.2%). YTD, HEV are up 31.2% to 251,567 and 35.4% share vs. 34%, including 67,657 full hybrids (+33.8%) and 183,910 mild hybrids (+30.3%). PHEV are down -5.7% to 7.056 for the month and up 6.5% YTD to 32,211. Finally BEV soar 38.8% to 6,213 and are up 41.1% YTD to 26.667.

In the brands ranking, Fiat (-24.8%) completely collapses to just 9.8% share, its worst ever at home (previous worst was 9.9% in pandemic-disrupted March 2020). The brand now holds just 11.5% of the market year-to-date. Volkswagen (-0.4%) also trails the market and sees its share thaw to 7.4%. In contrast Toyota (+25.7%) edges past the market growth and rallies back up six spots on April to reclaims the 3rd place it holds year-to-date. The next three carmakers all outpace the market: Peugeot is up 66.6%, Ford up 39% and Dacia up 71.9%. Jeep gains 21.3% in 7th position ahead of Renault (+62.2%), Audi (+43.6%) and BMW (+28.1%) all in great shape. 

Model-wise, the Fiat Panda (-35%) tumbles down to just 5.2% share, its lowest since August 2021 (4.7%). The Dacia Sandero (+271.8%) surges ahead to #2, a ranking it also holds year-to-date. Below, the Lancia Ypsilon (+10.4%) remains in third place as it does also YTD. The Peugeot 3008 (+80.2%) scores an outstanding result to break its ranking record at #4 (previous best #7 last month and in March 2020). The Toyota Yaris Cross (+45.1%) is up 8 spots on last month to #5, followed by the Ford Puma (+48.4%), Toyota Yaris (+52.3%) and Fiat 500X (+26.8%) all outracing the market. The Peugeot 2008 (+219.9%) is the most impressive in the Top 10. Two recent launches break their ranking record again this month: the Jeep Avenger is up to #12 and now the brand’s best-seller in Italy, and the Alfa Romeo Tonale up to #18. Notice also the MG ZS up 1024% to #23.

Previous month: Italy April 2023: Alfa Romeo Tonale, MG ZS and Jeep Avenger highlight market up 29.2%

One year ago: Italy May 2022: Toyota Aygo X in Top 10 in market down -15.1%

Full May 2023 Top 45 All brands and Top 50 models below.