Italy March 2026: Leapmotor T03 on podium

The Leapmotor T03 becomes the first Chinese model to enter the Italian podium.

New car sales in Italy are up by a solid 7.6% year-on-year in March to 185,367 units, leading to a year-to-date tally up 9.2% to 484,802. Private sales are up 18% to 95,638 and 51.2% share vs. 46.7% a year ago (up 7.7% to 53.2% share YTD), self registrations are up 8.3% to 15,397 and 8.2% share, unchanged on March 2025 (up 19.1% to 9.2% share YTD), long term leases fall -11.8% to 40,781 and 21.8% share vs. 26.6% in March 2025 (down -3.2% to 21.1% share YTD), short term rentals are up 9.7% to 25,082 and 13.4% share vs. 13.2% last year (up 51.3% to 11.4% share YTD) and company sales gain 7.6% to 9,790 and 5.2% share, unchanged (up 2% to 5.1% share YTD).

BEVs shoot up 71.7% to 16,137 and 8.6% share vs. 5.4% in March 2025 (up 65.3% to 7.8% share vs. 5.2% YTD) and PHEVs soar 114.5% to 16,998 and 9.1% share vs. 4.6% a year ago (up 123.3% to 8.8% share YTD). This way, rechargeable cars gain 91.3% to 33,135 and 17.7% share vs. 10% in March 2025 (up 91.7% to 81,098 and 16.6% share YTD vs. 9.5% over the same period in 2025.

In the brands ranking, Fiat (+27.2%) continues to catch up on lost time but sees its share drop from 13.4% in February to 11.4% this month. YTD volumes are up 29.8% to 12.7% share. Volkswagen (+2.7%) overtakes Toyota (-5.6%) for second place while Dacia (+4.3%) climbs back up five spots on last month #4, overtaking sister brand Renault (+1.8%), a soaring Audi (+27.4%), a freefalling Peugeot (-26.7%), BMW (+8.2%) and Jeep (-7.8%). Citroen (+11%) closes out the Top 10 in sturdy fashion. Kia (+22.3%) also makes itself entice at #11, while Chinese Leapmotor (+2727.2%) breaks its volume record at 5,513 units and BYD surges 190.6% to #17 and 2.8% share.

Model-wise, the Fiat Panda (-11.6%) accounts for 6% of its home market vs. 8% last month, entirely responsible for the brand’s drop vs. February. The Jeep Avenger (+6.1%) repeats at a record 2nd place with 2.8% share. Once again the biggest event of the month is delivered by the Leapmotor T03 (+2889.3%) up to a surreal and record third place. This is because of its price, after incentives and a €3,000 rebate from the manufacturer, is reduced to an incredible €4,900. Its advertising campaign promotes it as “cheaper than your bike”. Almost 10,750 units of the T03 have now been registered in Italy since the start of the year, earning it a fifth place YTD. The Dacia Sandero (-15.1%) rallies back up 17 ranks on February to #4 but remains well below its year-ago level. Although it drops two spots on February, the Fiat Grande Panda (+1073%) posts an encouraging third consecutive month inside its home Top 5. The Nissan Qashqai (+2.9%) and Dacia Duster (+25.7%) are back inside the Top 10, with the Fiat 600 (+21.6%) lodging its best ranking since May 2025 at #12.

Previous month: Italy February 2026: Fiat Grande Panda up to #3, €4,900 Leapmotor T03 up to #4

One year ago: Italy March 2025: MG breaks into Top 10, sales up 6.2%

Full March 2026 Top 55 All brands and Top 50 models below.