Italy January 2026: Fiat hits highest share in 3 years, places Grande Panda at #4

The Fiat Grande Panda is up to a record 4th place at home in January.

It’s a solid start of the year for the Italian new car market, with sales up 6.2% to 141.980 units. However private sales drop -3.8% to 81,585 and 56.9% share vs. 63% a year ago. Artificial sales channels pull the market up: self registrations soar 29.2% to 14,525 and short term rentals surge 188% to 12,460 and 8.7% share vs. 3.2% in January 2025. Meanwhile long term leases are up 3.2% to 27,526 and 19.2% share vs. 19.8% last year. Petrol is down -25.4%, diesel down -16.6% and LPG down -32.8%. HEVs gain 23.7% to 74,742 including 20,604 full hybrids (+32.8%) and 54,138 mild hybrids (+20.6%). PHEVs shoot up 152% to 12,502 and 8.7% share vs. 3.7% and BEVs advance 40.6% to 9,446 and 6.6% share vs. 5% a year ago.

In the brands charts, Fiat (+20.5%) finally posts a strong month at 13.5% share vs. 8.6% in December, its highest level at home since January 2023 (14%). Toyota (+0.3%) and Volkswagen (+3%) camp on their FY25 positions to round out the podium. Peugeot (-2%) is down year-on-year but up 8 spots on December to #4 ahead of Audi (+2.6%) at #5, its highest ranking since May 2024. Like in France and Spain, Dacia (-40.8%) is hit hard at #6. Below, Leapmotor (+594.4%), Omoda+Jaecoo (+357.1%), BYD (+329.6%), Cupra (+51.8%), Mini (+40.7%), Mercedes (+30.2%) and Opel (+11.3%) stand out.

Model-wise, the Fiat Panda (-0.2%) is stable year-on-year and accounts for 9.4% of its home market vs. just 5.8% in December and 6.7% over the Full Year 2025. The Jeep Avenger (+9.6%) is back up to a record 2nd place, also hit in April, May and September 2025. The Citroen C3 (-23%) falls heavily year-on-year but is up seven spots on last month to #3. Last year I highlighted the fact the Fiat Grande Panda had disappointed, finishing the year at a paltry #37. This month proves me wrong: the model is up 16 ranks on December to land at a record 4th position, beating its previous best of #8 hit last September. The Grande Panda sells at 95% in its HEV variant. The next few months will tell whether this was just a fluke or the start of a long term trend and a much needed 2nd success for the brand at home. Meanwhile the Toyota Aygo X (+72.3%) is up spectacularly to #5, simply the nameplate’s first incursion inside Italy’s Top 5.

Previous post: Italy Full Year 2025: Fiat Panda #1 for 14th straight year, Grande Panda disappoints

One year ago: Italy January 2025: Fiat back to #1, Dacia breaks share record

Full January 2026 Top 55 brands and Top 50 models below.