Il Italian car market accelerates in September and grows for the tenth consecutive month, but the recovery is still far from pre-pandemic levels. According to data from Ministry of Transport, 139.356 cars were registered in the month, 9,9% more than in September 2025. In the first nine months of the year, registrations reached 1.268.964, an increase of 8,7% over the same period last year. Stellantis It is growing faster than the market: in September, including Leapmotor, it registered 38.704 vehicles (+12,6%), bringing its share to 27,8%. In the first nine months, registrations were 379.936, up 13,9%, for a 29,9% share. The Fiat Pandina was the best-selling car of the month, with 10.401 units sold.
Chinese brands drive the market: focus on BYD
Also driving the market are the Chinese brands, with Byd Leading the way. In September, the manufacturer registered 5.161 vehicles, achieving a 3,8% share and increasing sales by 108,9% compared to a year ago. This confirms BYD's position in the Italian market's top 10 for the fifth consecutive month.
For 2026 the Promotor Study Center estimates 1,62 million registrations, 6,1% higher than in 2025 but still 15,6% lower than the pre-pandemic period. The picture remains that of a recovering market, but one undergoing profound changes. On the one hand, electric vehicles are growing, while on the other, the presence of Chinese manufacturers is rapidly increasing. This development is worrying the Italian supply chain: according to ANFIA President Roberto Vavassori, the increase in vehicle imports from China is putting pressure on European manufacturers and component suppliers, impacting employment and production.
Electric cars in Italy
Il The Italian electric car market is growing, but not taking off., while the rest of Europe is still accelerating to protect itself from fuel costs. According to Motus-E analyses, in September – after the end of the incentive effect – registrations of fully electric vehicles stood at 10.544 units, with an increase of 47,7% on an annual basis. The market share of electric vehicles in the month thus stood at 7,6 %, up from 5,6% in September 2025, but down from the peak last June (10,1%). "Despite the positive signals on the demand side, the European comparison is clear and tells us that we cannot consider ourselves satisfied: Italy continues to grow, but remains far from the main European markets in terms of electric vehicle penetration," said the president of Motus-E, Fabio Pressi, stressing that “the point is not to chase the market with emergency measures, but to use available resources to build a stable and selective strategy.”
The reference is to the safeguard clause envisaged by the European Commission for interventions aimed at reducing oil consumption and strengthening energy security. Looking at the main European markets, the latest comparable data, referring to August 2026, show that the market share of electric cars has reached 38,4% in France, 32,5% in Germany, 13,6% in Spain and 29,8% in the UKIn the same month, the market share in Italy stood at just 6,3%. To support the market, the priorities are clear: "A more favorable tax regime for the electrification of company fleets, charging infrastructure for companies and in areas where the market alone is currently struggling to sustain investment, and concrete support for the electrification of freight transport. These measures reduce dependence on fossil fuels, help families and businesses, and at the same time strengthen the competitiveness of the Italian supply chain," said Pressi, recalling the proposal on the taxation of company fleets submitted to the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Economy by Motus-E together with Anfia, Aniasa, and Unrae.
Focus Stellantis
The expectation of a recovery in volumes in the fourth quarter of the year, after the September data which were substantially in line with forecasts, Stellantis shares on the Milan Stock Exchange rise from their lowsLingotto shares achieved the best performance on the Ftse Mib and returned above 4 euros with a gain of 5,05% to 4,04 euros, although they remained the worst performers on the list since the beginning of the year (-57,35%). On Thursday, October 1st, after the market closed, Stellantis announced that registrations in Italy increased by 12,6% in September, compared to the market's +9,92%. Analysts at Equity, however, point out that the performance is better than the market "only including Leapmotor", excluding which it would record a below-average performance. Overall, the experts note that 'Stellantis registrations in the main European countries in September show a rebound in France, but underperforming the market in both cars and light commercial vehicles, a further recovery in Italy, but, indeed, "managing to outperform the market only including Leap motor".
Focus Volvo Cars
Volvo Cars recorded global sales of 141.609 vehicles in the third quarter of 2026, down 10,7% from the same period a year earlier. sales during the quarter they were affected by a further deterioration of market conditions in China, where sector volumes remained under strong pressure, as well as a slower-than-expected recovery in the United StatesIn China, deliveries totaled 20.284 vehicles, down 40,6% compared to the same period last year. Sales were impacted by increasing competitive and pricing pressure from local manufacturers, as well as the unfavorable macroeconomic environment. The premium car market in China remained under pressure, with a sharp double-digit decline in volumes. In the Americas, sales fell 14% to 30.777 vehicles. The decline was driven by persistently weak consumer sentiment, increasing competitive pressure in the SUV segment, and a high comparison base compared to last year, when sales of electrified vehicles increased before consumer incentives expired. Sales were also impacted by the slow recovery in demand for fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Volvo Cars' retail sales in Europe and the rest of the world remained stable, with sales of 90.548 cars, up 2% compared to the same period of the previous yearThis result was driven by a 51% increase in sales of fully electric cars. Overall, sales of electrified models increased by 12% and accounted for 64% of all cars sold in the region. The downturn in the Chinese market "showed no signs of abating, and the recovery in the US premium segment remained below our previous expectations," it said. Eric Severinson, chief commercial officer of Volvo Cars. “This impacted our third quarter sales and the same difficult market conditions have led independent analysts to revise downwards their sales forecast for the premium car market for 2026In Europe, we continue to see strong demand for our new cars, driven by the EX60 and our recently launched long-range plug-in hybrid models.”
Toyota, Honda and Nissan in the USA
Toyota, Honda e Nissan recorded a year-on-year increase in sales of new cars on the US market in the first nine months of the year, driven by growing demand for fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles and economical models amid rising fuel prices. Total new vehicle sales by six Japanese automakers—Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Subaru Mazda, and Mitsubishi—increased 1% to 4.596.858 units.
Toyota sales rose 0,6% to 1.876.614 units, thanks to strong performance from the hybrid versions of the Camry sedan and 4Runner SUV. Honda saw sales increase 4,7% to 1.149.261 units, driven primarily by the success of the hybrid versions of the Accord sedan and CR-V SUV. Nissan sales rose 0,6% to 716.283 units, driven by higher sales of the Frontier pickup. Subaru sales fell 1,5%, while Mazda sales fell 2,9%. Mitsubishi saw sales decline 6,6%.
