Italy January 2026: Fiat hits highest share in 3 years, places Grande Panda at #4
The Fiat Grande Panda is up to a record 4th place at home in January.
It’s a solid start of the year for the Italian new car market, with sales up 6.2% to 141.980 units. However private sales drop -3.8% to 81,585 and 56.9% share vs. 63% a year ago. Artificial sales channels pull the market up: self registrations soar 29.2% to 14,525 and short term rentals surge 188% to 12,460 and 8.7% share vs. 3.2% in January 2025. Meanwhile long term leases are up 3.2% to 27,526 and 19.2% share vs. 19.8% last year. Petrol is down -25.4%, diesel down -16.6% and LPG down -32.8%. HEVs gain 23.7% to 74,742 including 20,604 full hybrids (+32.8%) and 54,138 mild hybrids (+20.6%). PHEVs shoot up 152% to 12,502 and 8.7% share vs. 3.7% and BEVs advance 40.6% to 9,446 and 6.6% share vs. 5% a year ago.
In the brands charts, Fiat (+20.5%) finally posts a strong month at 13.5% share vs. 8.6% in December, its highest level at home since January 2023 (14%). Toyota (+0.3%) and Volkswagen (+3%) camp on their FY25 positions to round out the podium. Peugeot (-2%) is down year-on-year but up 8 spots on December to #4 ahead of Audi (+2.6%) at #5, its highest ranking since May 2024. Like in France and Spain, Dacia (-40.8%) is hit hard at #6. Below, Leapmotor (+594.4%), Omoda+Jaecoo (+357.1%), BYD (+329.6%), Cupra (+51.8%), Mini (+40.7%), Mercedes (+30.2%) and Opel (+11.3%) stand out.
Model-wise, the Fiat Panda (-0.2%) is stable year-on-year and accounts for 9.4% of its home market vs. just 5.8% in December and 6.7% over the Full Year 2025. The Jeep Avenger (+9.6%) is back up to a record 2nd place, also hit in April, May and September 2025. The Citroen C3 (-23%) falls heavily year-on-year but is up seven spots on last month to #3. Last year I highlighted the fact the Fiat Grande Panda had disappointed, finishing the year at a paltry #37. This month proves me wrong: the model is up 16 ranks on December to land at a record 4th position, beating its previous best of #8 hit last September. The Grande Panda sells at 95% in its HEV variant. The next few months will tell whether this was just a fluke or the start of a long term trend and a much needed 2nd success for the brand at home. Meanwhile the Toyota Aygo X (+72.3%) is up spectacularly to #5, simply the nameplate’s first incursion inside Italy’s Top 5.
Previous post: Italy Full Year 2025: Fiat Panda #1 for 14th straight year, Grande Panda disappoints
One year ago: Italy January 2025: Fiat back to #1, Dacia breaks share record
Full January 2026 Top 55 brands and Top 50 models below.
Italy January 2026 – brands:
| Pos | Brand | Jan-26 | % | /25 | Dec |
| 1 | Fiat | 19,162 | 13.5% | + 20.5% | 1 |
| 2 | Toyota | 10,126 | 7.1% | + 0.3% | 2 |
| 3 | Volkswagen | 8,770 | 6.2% | + 3.0% | 3 |
| 4 | Peugeot | 7,098 | 5.0% | – 2.0% | 12 |
| 5 | Audi | 7,018 | 4.9% | + 2.6% | 6 |
| 6 | Dacia | 6,791 | 4.8% | – 40.8% | 8 |
| 7 | Renault | 6,470 | 4.6% | + 5.8% | 5 |
| 8 | BMW | 6,392 | 4.5% | + 0.4% | 4 |
| 9 | Jeep | 5,971 | 4.2% | + 1.3% | 11 |
| 10 | Citroen | 5,695 | 4.0% | + 2.8% | 13 |
| 11 | Mercedes | 5,505 | 3.9% | + 30.2% | 7 |
| 12 | Ford | 4,901 | 3.5% | – 5.9% | 16 |
| 13 | MG | 4,240 | 3.0% | + 2.6% | 10 |
| 14 | Opel | 3,701 | 2.6% | + 11.3% | 23 |
| 15 | Kia | 3,677 | 2.6% | – 7.1% | 15 |
| 16 | Hyundai | 3,583 | 2.5% | – 4.7% | 14 |
| 17 | BYD | 3,553 | 2.5% | + 329.6% | 9 |
| 18 | Nissan | 3,408 | 2.4% | + 8.6% | 25 |
| 19 | Skoda | 3,280 | 2.3% | + 8.4% | 17 |
| 20 | Omoda+Jaecoo | 2,496 | 1.8% | + 357.1% | 21 |
| 21 | Suzuki | 2,204 | 1.6% | – 19.6% | 22 |
| 22 | Alfa Romeo | 2,082 | 1.5% | – 8.5% | 26 |
| 23 | Cupra | 1,712 | 1.2% | + 51.8% | 20 |
| 24 | Mini | 1,327 | 0.9% | + 40.7% | 24 |
| 25 | Volvo | 1,279 | 0.9% | + 16.0% | 28 |
| 26 | Mazda | 1,198 | 0.8% | + 24.7% | 29 |
| 27 | Leapmotor | 1,118 | 0.8% | + 594.4% | 19 |
| 28 | Lancia | 1,027 | 0.7% | + 15.4% | 35 |
| 29 | Honda | 1,006 | 0.7% | + 52.0% | 32 |
| 30 | DR Motor | 832 | 0.6% | – 38.8% | 27 |
| 31 | Tesla | 713 | 0.5% | + 74.8% | 18 |
| 32 | EVO | 675 | 0.5% | + 2.7% | 33 |
| 33 | Land Rover | 627 | 0.4% | – 2.8% | 34 |
| 34 | Lexus | 570 | 0.4% | + 9.2% | 36 |
| 35 | Seat | 444 | 0.3% | – 35.4% | 31 |
| 36 | EMC | 399 | 0.3% | + 143.3% | 37 |
| 37 | Porsche | 395 | 0.3% | – 33.3% | 30 |
| 38 | DS | 375 | 0.3% | + 13.3% | 39 |
| 39 | Geely | 282 | 0.2% | new | – |
| 40 | Tiger | 246 | 0.2% | new | – |
| 41 | DFSK | 222 | 0.2% | + 149.4% | 43 |
| 42 | Sportequipe | 197 | 0.1% | + 84.1% | 41 |
| 43 | Subaru | 182 | 0.1% | + 64.0% | 40 |
| 44 | Ich-X | 161 | 0.1% | + 1912.5% | n/a |
| 45 | KGM | 143 | 0.1% | + 361.3% | – |
| 46 | Lynk & Co | 111 | 0.1% | + 82.0% | 42 |
| 47 | Ferrari | 88 | 0.1% | + 8.6% | 46 |
| 48 | Maserati | 66 | 0.0% | – 57.1% | 44 |
| 49 | Polestar | 66 | 0.0% | + 153.8% | 45 |
| 50 | Lamborghini | 66 | 0.0% | + 11.9% | 48 |
| 51 | Alpine | 33 | 0.0% | + 230.0% | n/a |
| 52 | Smart | 20 | 0.0% | – 79.4% | 47 |
| 53 | Aston Martin | 14 | 0.0% | – 17.6% | 50 |
| 54 | Lotus | 12 | 0.0% | – 55.6% | 49 |
| 55 | Mahindra | 1 | 0.0% | – 96.2% | – |
| 56 | Mitsubishi | 0 | 0.0% | – 100.0% | 38 |
| – | Others | 250 | 0.2% | + 25.6% | – |
Italy January 2026 – models:
| Pos | Model | Jan-26 | % | /24 | Dec |
| 1 | Fiat Panda | 13,308 | 9.4% | – 0.2% | 1 |
| 2 | Jeep Avenger | 5,133 | 3.6% | + 9.6% | 4 |
| 3 | Citroen C3 | 3,516 | 2.5% | – 23.0% | 10 |
| 4 | Fiat Grande Panda | 3,299 | 2.3% | + 14243.5% | 20 |
| 5 | Toyota Aygo X | 3,029 | 2.1% | + 72.3% | 6 |
| 6 | Dacia Sandero | 2,937 | 2.1% | – 47.3% | 2 |
| 7 | Renault Clio | 2,651 | 1.9% | + 22.1% | 7 |
| 8 | Toyota Yaris | 2,499 | 1.8% | – 14.9% | 14 |
| 9 | Peugeot 208 | 2,462 | 1.7% | – 33.9% | 21 |
| 10 | VW T-Roc | 2,440 | 1.7% | + 40.8% | 5 |
| 11 | Peugeot 3008 | 2,378 | 1.7% | + 124.8% | 32 |
| 12 | Dacia Duster | 2,337 | 1.6% | – 46.4% | 40 |
| 13 | MG ZS | 2,239 | 1.6% | – 8.2% | 13 |
| 14 | Toyota Yaris Cross | 2,228 | 1.6% | – 13.4% | 3 |
| 15 | Nissan Qashqai | 2,160 | 1.5% | + 61.3% | 44 |
| 16 | Opel Corsa | 2,137 | 1.5% | – 8.7% | 23 |
| 17 | Audi Q3 | 2,091 | 1.5% | + 29.9% | 42 |
| 18 | BMW X1 | 2,089 | 1.5% | + 26.4% | 12 |
| 19 | Ford Puma | 2,069 | 1.5% | – 6.0% | 18 |
| 20 | Renault Captur | 2,068 | 1.5% | – 19.7% | 9 |
| 21 | VW Tiguan | 1,971 | 1.4% | + 8.7% | 11 |
| 22 | Toyota C-HR | 1,970 | 1.4% | + 12.8% | 16 |
| 23 | BYD Seal U | 1,819 | 1.3% | + 240.6% | 17 |
| 24 | VW T-Cross | 1,616 | 1.1% | – 28.7% | 19 |
| 25 | Alfa Romeo Junior | 1,543 | 1.1% | + 10.1% | 46 |
| 26 | Kia Sportage | 1,528 | 1.1% | – 0.6% | 22 |
| 27 | MG 3 | 1,379 | 1.0% | + 19.2% | 35 |
| 28 | Kia Picanto | 1,365 | 1.0% | – 7.2% | 25 |
| 29 | Peugeot 2008 | 1,348 | 0.9% | – 23.8% | n/a |
| 30 | Hyundai Tucson | 1,305 | 0.9% | + 3.7% | 29 |
| 31 | Mercedes GLA | 1,275 | 0.9% | + 12.4% | 27 |
| 32 | Omoda 5 | 1,258 | 0.9% | new | 26 |
| 33 | Audi A3 | 1,182 | 0.8% | – 13.8% | 31 |
| 34 | BMW X3 | 1,167 | 0.8% | + 27.0% | n/a |
| 35 | Fiat 600 | 1,107 | 0.8% | – 32.9% | 33 |
| 36 | Ford Tourneo Courier | 1,090 | 0.8% | + 32.6% | n/a |
| 37 | Nissan Juke | 1,073 | 0.8% | – 24.3% | 50 |
| 38 | Fiat 500 | 1,059 | 0.7% | + 328.7% | n/a |
| 39 | Citroen C3 Aircross | 1,030 | 0.7% | n/a | n/a |
| 40 | Lancia Ypsilon | 1,027 | 0.7% | + 15.4% | n/a |
| 41 | Suzuki Swift | 951 | 0.7% | + 36.4% | 47 |
| 42 | Leapmotor T03 | 949 | 0.7% | + 520.3% | 8 |
| 43 | Audi A1 | 919 | 0.6% | – 4.8% | n/a |
| 44 | Skoda Kamiq | 875 | 0.6% | – 14.4% | n/a |
| 45 | Suzuki Vitara | 869 | 0.6% | – 11.8% | 39 |
| 46 | Mercedes A Class | 866 | 0.6% | + 119.8% | n/a |
| 47 | BYD Dolphin Surf | 856 | 0.6% | new | 24 |
| 48 | VW Golf | 856 | 0.6% | – 24.9% | 28 |
| 49 | Ford Kuga | 838 | 0.6% | – 9.8% | n/a |
| 50 | Audi Q5 | 832 | 0.6% | + 5.3% | 48 |
Source: UNRAE
This Post Has 4 Comments
Worrying times for Fiat 600. Sales are falling off a cliff, & its outsold at home by its Jeep sibling by 5:1 . Grande Panda finally having a decent month – hopefully the production issues have been sorted & they can finally start churning these out at a decent rate – plus get RHD production kicked off so i can take delivery of mine lol
It seems like they fixed the inventory for Grande Panda. But they need at least 5K per month to consider it a success at home.
I agree! We need it at #2 long term.
Yep! I wonder if they’ll manage a 10K per month in Europe. The C3 is increasing capacity to reach 200K annually.
I think that Stellantis is fading, the cut of some brands is inevitable