Italian sales rise 43% in May, with big gains from Toyota, Lancia, Fiat

MILAN -- New-car registrations in Italy increased by 43 percent in May to 142,730 over the same month in 2020, according to data from the country's ministry of infrastructure and transport, as lockdowns and travel restrictions imposed in March to fight coronavirus were gradually lifted.

Among volume brands, the strongest gains were posted by Toyota/Lexus, up 92 percent; Lancia, up 89 percent; and Fiat, up 70 percent. 

There were 99,842 sales in May, according to the ministry. Industry association ANFIA said that figure was still 28 percent below the pre-pandemic level of May 2019. 

Market research company Dataforce said sales to private customers declined 19 percent in May from the same month in 2019; sales to companies were down 22 percent and those to long-term rental companies declined by 23 percent. Sales to short-term rental companies dropped by 51 percent from the 2019 level, despite a more optimistic outlook for the tourism season.

Self-registrations by automakers and dealers dropped 46 percent from the 2019 level.

Dataforce did not provide a comparison to figures from May 2020.

Sales through May this year were 735,125, an increase of 63 percent from the same period in 2020. Dataforce forecasts the market will post 7.7 percent growth in 2021 to 1.49 million sales.

Stellantis, the group formed this year after the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobilies and PSA Group, had a 39.4 percent market share. In addition to gains at Fiat and Lancia, Jeep sales rose by 31 percent, Peugeot sales were up 29 percent, Citroen was up 38 percent, Opel was up by 37 percent and DS was up 34 percent. Only Alfa Romeo showed a decline, with sales down 5 percent.

Volkswagen Group had a 17.5 percent market share. Within the group, VW brand sales grew by 47 percent, Skoda sales were up 49 percent, Seat sales rose 29 percent and Audi increased 60 percent.

Renault Group had a 7.2 percent market share. Renault brand sales were down 8.9 percent, while Dacia sales posted a 0.4 percent gain.

Ford registrations were up 12 percent.

Among Asian brands, in addition to Toyota/Lexus’s surge, Nissan recorded a gain of 41 percent. Hyundai sales were up 66 percent, while sibling brand Kia grew by 55 percent.

BMW brand sales rose 31 percent and Mercedes-Benz sales increased 41 percent.

Registrations of plug-in hybrid and full-electric vehicles rose 330 percent in May to 12,890. Their combined market share for the month was 9 percent, up from 3 percent in May 2020, importer association UNRAE said.

Sales were still helped by government subsidies of up to 8,000 euros ($9,400) for full-electric vehicles and up to 4,500 euros for plug-in hybrids.

Sales of plug-in hybrids increased 558 percent to 7,727, for a 5.4 percent market share, up from 1.2 percent in May 2020.

Registrations of full-electric vehicles increased 184 percent to 5,163, and their market share doubled to 3.6 percent from 1.8 percent in May 2020.

The Fiat New 500 was the most popular full-electric vehicle for the second month in a row, with 1,030 sales. The Smart Fortwo minicar finished second with 641 units.

The Jeep Compass compact SUV was the most popular plug-in hybrid choice, with 908 sales, ahead of the Volvo XC40 and BMW X1 compact crossovers.

Full-hybrid and mild-hybrid sales were up 251 percent for a 28 percent market share.

Diesel sales declined 7.7 percent but their share at 23.4 percent was higher than the 22.8 percent posted in April.

Gasoline powertrain sales were up 7.6 percent in April, with a market share of 31 percent, 10 percentage points down from May 2020.

Sales of cars powered by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) were 43 percent higher, with a 6.4 percent market share, the same as in May 2020. Demand for vehicles driven by compressed natural gas (CNG) grew by 64 percent, giving the powertrain a market share of 2.2 percent, up from 1.9 percent in May 2020.