The traditional narrow streets of the Italian towns and the difficulties to find parking areas continue to be the first driver for people to prefer small cars. In the last decade, the increased average price and the reduced purchasing power have further forced a large part of the population to choose a low-cost car, with the success of brands like Dacia, Kia, Hyundai.

After over 40 years from its arrival in the market, the best seller up to October 2023 is always the same: the city-car Fiat Panda which has a substantial advantage over all the followers (6.6% market share), with sales at 84,398 (-3.9%).

The Dacia Sandero, with 3.2% market share, rises 2 spots into 2nd with 40,717 units sold so far and a 49.0% increase from the previous year. The Lancia Ypsilon, ranks in 3rd position with 37,883 sales, an 8.9% year-on-year growth. 

The Toyota Yaris Cross rises 4 spots into 4th with 29,200 sales and a 33.7% boom in ytd volume.

The Volkswagen T-Roc jumps 6 spots into 5th with 27,240 sales (+29.5%), in front of the Fiat 500 at  26,590 (+9.3%), the Dacia Duster at 25,626 (+20.8%) and Ford Puma in 8th with 25,586 sales (+0.9%).

The Citroen C3 falls 6 spots into 9th with 25,379 sales (-8.6%) and the Fiato 500x rises 2 spots into 10th position with 24,581 registrations (+19.6%).

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 40 models.

The best-selling car ranking in Italy is dominated by small and medium cars due to the high use of vehicles in the urban environment and the arrival of electric and hybrid vehicles has not changed thew picture.

The traditional narrow streets of the Italian towns and the difficulties to find parking areas continue to be the first driver for people to prefer small cars. In the last decade, the increased average price and the reduced purchasing power have further forced a large part of the population to choose a low-cost car, with the success of brands like Dacia, Kia, Hyundai.

After over 40 years from its arrival in the market, the best seller is always the same: the city-car Fiat Panda which has now a huge advantage over all the followers, with year to date sales at 105,384 (-6.1%).

The second place is held by another pure Italian aged car. Launched in the early nineties the last generation of the Lancia Ypsilon is second with 40,968 sales (-6.3%) followed by the iconic Fiat 500. This model was originally launched in the fifties and subsequently re-launched in 2006. In all of these years the Fiat 500 was able to stay on top of the leaderboards, securing 3rd with 33,994 sales (-24.2%).

The first foreign model in the rankings is the Dacia Sandero, jumping 4 spots into 4th position with 33,920 (+16.7%) ahead of the Citroen C3 -up 2 spots– with 31,861 (+2.9%), the Jeep Renegade -down 2 spots- with 29,844 (-14.9%) and the Ford Puma with 29,455 sales (+3.5%).

The Toyota Yaris ranks in 8th with 27,789 (-14.6%), followed by the Toyota Yaris Cross -up 51 spots- with 25,997 sales (+250.6%) and the Peugeot 208 closing the Top 10 with 25,819 sales (+9.8%).

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 40 models.

The best-selling car ranking in Italy is dominated by small and medium cars due to the high use of vehicles in the urban environment.

The traditional narrow streets of the Italian towns and the difficulties to find parking areas continue to be the first driver for people to prefer small cars. In the last decade, the increased average price and the reduced purchasing power have further forced a large part of the population to choose a low-cost car, with the success of brands like Dacia, Kia, Hyundai.

In 2021, the city-car Fiat Panda remains the best-selling car. With 112,198 sales (+40%), the Panda holds 7.8% share.

The Fiat 500 reaches 2nd position -up 30 spots- and reports 44,825 sales (+229.7%) with 3.1% market share, followed by the Lancia Ypsilon, which reached the third spot by rising 6 spots, selling 43,715 units (+70.4%) with 3% share as well.

In 4th and 5th positions there were respectively the Jeep Renegade -up 1 spot– with 35,052 sales (+18.9%) and the Toyota Yaris –up 57 spots- with 32,552 units (+398%).

The Fiat 500X fell in 6th position with 31,924 units sold (+0.5%), followed by the Citroen C3 -down 1 spot- with 30,952 units sold (+6.2%).

The Dacia Sandero falls 1 spot with 29,070 units sold (+3.5%), followed by the Ford Puma -up 3 spots- with 28,471 units sold (+18%).

At the end of the Top 10 ranking, we find the Jeep Compass with 28,398 sales (+22.7%).

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 40 models.

The best selling car ranking in Italy is dominated by small and medium cars due to the high use of vehicles in the urban environment.

The traditional narrow streets of the Italian towns and the difficulties to find parking areas continue to be the first driver for people to prefer small cars. In the last decade, the increased average price and the reduced purchasing power have further forced a large part of the population to choose a low-cost car, with the success of brands like Dacia, Kia, Hyundai.

In 2020, the city-car Fiat Panda remains the best-selling car. With 80.121 sales (-45%), the Panda falls to 5.8% market share but holds still more than double the sales of its closest competition.

The Fiat 500x reaches 2nd position by gaining 2 spots and reports 31.778 sales (-25.3%), followed by the Renault Clio, which returned in the third spot, jumping 2 positions, selling 31.638 units (-24.3%).

In 4th and 5th positions there were respectively the Fiat Panda HEV with 30.344 sales and the Jeep Renegade – up 1 spot- with 29.481 units (-29.3%).

The Citroen C3 reached 6th position with 29.157 units sold (-30%), followed by the Dacia Sandero -up 4 spots- with 28.100 units sold (-20.5%).

The Renault Captur entered the leaderboard by jumping 5 spots, with 25.844 units sold (-19.7%), followed by the glorious but dead Italian brand Lancia with the survived model Lancia Ypsilon with 25.648 units sold (-56.4%) falling 7 spots.

At the end of the Top 10 ranking, we find the Volkswagen T-roc –down 2 spots- with 24.794 sales (-37.4%).

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 40 models.

Despite the national brand – Fiat – declines – the best-selling model keep to be the city-car Fiat Panda which has lost terrain in the last decade from a market share of 7.9% in the 2010 to a negative record of 6.0% in the 2018, before to show recovery in the 2019 (6.9%).

In the second place there is the survived model of the glorious but dead italian brand Lancia, the Lancia Ypsilon, which keep to find large lovers among italian female and is almost stable at a market share near 3%.

In third place the Renault Clio, leader among the imported vehicles, with a market share which follows the model age, with a last decade record share of 3.5% in the 2014 and actually penalized by the run-out of the previous version before of the current launch of the last generation.

Launched in the 2014 and produced in the italian plant of Melfi, in Basilicata, the Jeep Renegade ranks in fourth place with a record share of 2.1% ahead of the Fiat 500x one of the few Fiat still produced in Italy, in Melfi on the same Renegade platform, and the Dacia Duster which benefit from the second generation success and is jumping up a record share of 2.1%.

The beautiful Citroen C3 stands in seven place stable with a share in the range of 2.0%, below the share obtained by the previous generation, due to the less space available in the market for hatch models, after the success of small SUVs.

The new entrance on top of the list is the made in Germany Volkswagen T-Roc that is by the Toyota Yaris, leader in the hybrid combustion segment and the Fiat 500, in decline.

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for the Top 50 models.

The market long recovery is ended in the 2018, considering the car park density in Italy is the highest in Europe and within the top 5 worldwide.

Data released by the Italian Minister of Transportation reported that the market has ended with 1918.526 sales. The steady growth of past years has stopped, with a decline of 2.6% this year. The deadline of September 1st for introduction of WLTP emission standard, moved up and down the registrations data in single Q3 months, but not as in others EU countries.

As far as the best selling car ranking, for the 7th year in a row the 2018 market leader is the city-car Fiat Panda with sales at 124.266 (-14.9%) followed by the leader of imported vehicles, the Renault Clio with 51.628 (1.9%) and the Fiat 500X with 49.931 (+9%).

In fourth place the Lancia Ypsilon with 48.555 (-19.5%) ahead of the Jeep Renegade with 41.960 (+11.5%), the Citroen C3 with 41.584 (-1.8%) and the Volkswagen Polo with 39.499 (+4%).

In eight place  the Fiat Tipo with 40.337 (-28%) followed by the Fiat 500 with 39.885 units (-26.1%) and in 10th place by the Ford Fiesta with 39.681 (-2.9%).

Very close to the Top 10 there is the Jeep Compass, 12th and up 407%, while the Volkswagen Golf (13th) is out of this short list, first time after 30 years.

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for the Top 50 models.

The 2016 has been a really positive year for the automotive industry in Italy with the market back within the top 10 at global level.

The domestic models have benefit for the positive mood considering that near 30% of the market is in FCA hands.

For the fifth year in a row, the market leader was the city-car Fiat Panda with 147.283 sales (+16.5%), followed by the Lancia Ypsilon with 65.663 units (+17.6%) and the Fiat 500 L with 54.578 (+9.3%).

In fourth place and leader among imported vehicles, the Renault Clio with 49.798 units (+15.3%) ahead of the Volkswagen Golf, with 6.708 (+5.1%), the new Fiat 500X with 46.232 (+41.9%) units, the old Fiat 500 with 45.400 (+11.1%) and the Fiat Punto, down 6 spots with 45.208 units (-19.9%).

In ninth place the Ford Fiesta with 43.573 units (+8.2%) and in 10th place the Volkswagen Polo with 43.096 (+18.4%).

New models are raising with the just launched Fiat Tipo landed in 14th place with 31.555 sales, the Hyundai Tucson 22nd with 22.893 and the Renault Kadjar 32nd with 15.151.

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Below, you can sort our interactive tables to see data regarding Brands, Groups and Models. Please bear in mind that sales data are subject to adjustments as sources will update their information. This report is updated at the publishing date and will not be modified while the next on this subject will always have the year to date data updated.

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