Italian Car Market Suffers Another Blow in November
November 2024 proved to be a tough month for the Italian car market, with sales experiencing a sharp double-digit decline. This drop of 10.8% dragged the overall market performance for the year into negative territory, although only slightly.
Fuel Type Trends Show Continued Decline for Diesel and LPG
Analyzing sales by fuel type reveals a persistent downward trend in traditional engine options. Petrol car registrations fell to 34,497 in November 2024, representing a 12.1% decrease compared to the same period last year. Despite this decline, petrol vehicles maintained a 27.4% market share.
Diesel, once a dominant force in the Italian market, continues to lose ground. Only 15,886 diesel cars were registered in November, marking a significant 23.7% drop from the previous year. The market share for diesel vehicles now stands at 12.6%.
LPG vehicles also suffered a decline, with registrations falling by 18.8% to 11,319 units compared to November 2023. This translates to a 9% market share.
Astonishingly, no methane cars were registered in November 2024.
Hybrid Vehicles Show Slight Dip, While Electric Car Sales Decline
Hybrid cars (Full Hybrid + Mild Hybrid) saw a slight decrease in sales, with 53,551 registrations compared to 53,749 in November 2023. Although registrations dipped by a minimal 0.4%, hybrids still commanded a significant 42.6% market share.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles experienced a more pronounced decline, falling by 31.8% to 3,944 registrations compared to 5,779 in the same period last year. This resulted in a 3.1% market share for plug-in hybrids.
Electric car sales also took a hit, with registrations dropping by 16.9% to 6,613 compared to 7,954 in November 2023. Electric vehicles now hold a 5.3% share of the market.
As automakers and consumers alike navigate a rapidly changing automotive landscape, it remains to be seen how these trends will evolve in the coming months.
What are the main factors contributing to the decline in the Italian car market?
## Italian Car Market Feels the Pinch
**INT. STUDIO – DAY**
**HOST:** Welcome back to the show. Joining us today is Alessandro Rossi, our automotive correspondent, to discuss the latest news hitting Italy’s car market. Alessandro, it seems November was a rough month.
**ALESSANDRO:** That’s right. The Italian car market took a significant hit last month, with sales plummeting by 10.8%. This is a substantial drop and unfortunately enough to pull the overall year-to-date performance into negative territory.
**HOST:** Why such a drastic downturn? Are there any particular trends driving this decline?
**ALESSANDRO:** It’s a complex issue with multiple factors at play. While I don’t have specific data on November, we know the global economic slowdown is having an impact. High inflation and interest rates are making it more difficult for consumers to afford new cars.
**HOST:** Are Italians turning to the used car market as a result, perhaps?
**ALESSANDRO:** That’s certainly possible. Websites like Subito.it [[1](https://www.expatslivinginrome.com/italian-second-hand-car-websites/)]are popular platforms for buying and selling used cars, offering a more affordable option.
**HOST:** So, what does the future hold for the Italian car industry?
**ALESSANDRO:** It’s definitely a challenging time. The industry will need to find ways to adapt to these changing economic conditions. This could include focusing on more affordable models, promoting electric vehicles, and exploring innovative financing options.
**HOST:** It sounds like a bumpy road ahead. Alessandro Rossi, thank you for your insights.
**ALESSANDRO:** My pleasure.
