Italy May 2026: Leapmotor T03 threepeats at #3, BYD Atto 2 up to #5

The Leapmotor T03 ranks #3 again in Italy.

New car sales in Italy grow by a very healthy +7.6% year-on-year in May to 150,096. This is the best May result since pre-pandemic 2019 (197,876). The year-to-date tally is now up a robust 9.4% to 790,301. Encouragingly, private sales are up 15.7% to 80,485 and 53.1% share vs. 49.6% a year ago (+11.2% to 52.6% share YTD). Self registrations drop -3% to 16,038 and 10.6% share vs. 11.8% in May 2025 (+13.5% to 9.7% share YTD), long term leases are down -1.6% to 32,213 and 21.2% share vs. 23.3% (down -3.5% to 21.2% share YTD), short term rentals are up 13.6% to 14,843 and 9.8% share vs. 9.3% (up 35.8% to 11.3% share YTD) and company sales are off -4.2% to 8,080 and 5.3% vs. 6% (up 0.3% to 5.1% share YTD).

HEV sales soar 16.5% to 71,392 and 47.1% share vs. 43.7% a year ago, including 24,216 full hybrids (+34.4%) and 47,176 mild hybrids (+9%). PHEVs surge 71% to 15,433 and 10.2% share vs. 6.4% in May 2025 and BEVs shoot up 86.2% to 13,305 and 8.8% share vs. 5.1% last year. As a result rechargeable vehicles are up 77.7% to 28,738 and 19% share vs. 11.5% a year ago. Year-to-date, BEV sales are up 75.4% to 64,720 and 8.1% share vs. 5.1% over the first 5 months of 2025.

Looking at the brands ranking, Fiat (+27.4%) continues to recover year-on-year but at 10.1% share it delivers its lowest level so far this year, to be compared with 11.7% YTD. Volkswagen (+1%) overtakes Toyota (-7%) but the latter stays at #2 year-to-date. Excellent result for Dacia (+18.6%) up one spot on last month to #4 and Audi (+19.7%) up three to #5 for the second time this year after last February. BYD (+209.5%) is up 3-fold year-on-year and breaks into the Top 10 for the second time ever at #9, also hit last December. The Chinese carmaker sports a new volume record (6,019, previous best 5,193 last March) and share record (4%, previous best 3.1% last December). Leapmotor (+1277.2%) is up three spots on April to #13.

Model-wise, the Fiat Panda (+9.4%) outpaces its home market, climbing back up to 6% share vs. 5.5% last month. The Dacia Sandero (+23.5%) is up two spots to #2 but remains at #5 year-to-date. It’s a third consecutive month at a record third place for the Leapmotor T03 (+1739.8%), available from an incredible €4,900 after subventions and manufacturer rebates. Below a struggling Jeep Avenger (-15.1%), the BYD Atto 2 (+6717.9%) spectacularly breaks into the Top 5 at #5, with a previous best of #16 reached last March and for only its 4th appearance inside the Italian Top 50. The Fiat Grande Panda (+764.5%) recedes once again month-on-month to #9, after reaching #3 last February. It still ranks #3 year-to-date. Finally, notice the Fiat 500 (+1625.8%), not EV-only anymore, back up to #19 which is its highest ranking since June 2024.

Previous month: Italy April 2026: Leapmotor T03 repeats at #3, MG ZS up to record #5

One year ago: Italy May 2025: Jeep Avenger repeats at #2, Peugeot 208 up to record #3

Full May 2026 Top 58 All brands and Top 50 models below.