They say history repeats itself, especially in the automotive industry. However, looking at contemporary trends, the European car market experienced a 3.8% decline in December after sixteen consecutive months of growth. Despite this, the year 2023 concluded with an impressive 13.7% increase, reaching a total of 12,847,481 cars sold – a positive outcome compared to 2022. Nevertheless, to grasp the true context, it’s worth noting that compared to 2019 (the last pre-COVID-19 year), the market has shrunk by 18.7%.
Analysts expected this development for several reasons. Firstly, demand growth was supported by companies and fleets capable of absorbing significant price hikes in cars over recent years. This compensated for the relative weakness in demand from private buyers, driven by a sharp increase in prices, for instance, in Italy, where they grew by 34.3% between 2019 and 2022. This trend continued into the past year.
It’s also crucial to consider that the growth periods were fueled by accumulated orders during the supply chain crisis and the subsequent production crisis, hampered by a shortage of microchips and other raw materials. However, these orders ceased to grow at the necessary pace, revealing the real market trends. These trends also extend to the issue of incentives for electric vehicles, which in 2023 contributed to the increase in the registration of electric cars in Western Europe from 13.9% in 2022 to 15.7% in 2023. However, as soon as the “incentive drug” was discontinued, in some countries, such as Germany, electric car registrations plummeted, with a share dropping to 22.6% in December compared to 33.2% in 2022.
Returning to the Italian market: let’s highlight the historic moment when Volkswagen surpassed Fiat in sales in the last month of 2023. After a staggering 96 years – yes, you read that right, the last time this happened was in 1928 – the former royal house of the Italian automotive industry, now under Stellantis (completely under French control), relinquished its position to the Germans from Wolfsburg, with 10,752 registrations compared to 10,523. For the record, throughout 2023, Fiat maintained its lead, outperforming the Germans with 174,580 against 122,794 registrations. However, Fiat’s market share decreased from 13.9% to 11.14% over the course of 12 months
Top Car Brands in Italy: A Review of Popularity in 2020
In 2020, the Italian automotive market continued to reflect its uniqueness and consumer preferences. In this review, we’ll explore which car brands gained the most popularity in Italy during this period.
Fiat: Italian Pride
Unsurprisingly, Fiat, the Italian automaker with a long history, remained a leader in the market. Models like the Fiat 500 and Fiat Panda continued to captivate Italian consumers with their stylish design and compact size.
Volkswagen: German Standard of Reliability
The German brand Volkswagen traditionally maintained a strong presence in the Italian market. Models such as the Volkswagen Golf and Polo attracted buyers with their comfort and technical specifications.
Ford: Balancing Style and Performance
Ford, Renault, Opel, and other European manufacturers retained their popularity in Italy. Family cars, city crossovers, and compact hatchbacks from these brands offered a wide range of choices for consumers.
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