Italy car registrations rise 9.9% in September 2026 as Stellantis and hybrids expand

September registration growth

In September 2026, new car registrations in Italy rose by 9.9% compared to September 2025, reaching 139,356 units according to Ministry of Transport figures. This performance brought cumulative sales for the first nine months of 2026 to 1,268,964 vehicles, representing an 8.7% rise over the same period in 2025. Data from dealer association Federauto indicated that 58,906 units, representing 42.15% of the total monthly volume, were registered in the final three days of September. That late surge averaged 19,635 registrations per day compared to an average of 4,254 registrations on the remaining working days of the month. Average carbon dioxide emissions for newly registered vehicles fell by 5.9% compared to September 2025, reaching 108.5 grams per kilometer.

Powertrain shifts and electrification

Electrified models accounted for the majority of sales in September 2026, led by hybrid powertrains which captured a 50.4% market share following a 23.1% volume increase. Mild hybrids represented 32.2% of registrations while full hybrids took 18.5%. Rechargeable passenger vehicles expanded to 18.8% of monthly sales, up from 14.2% in September 2025. Within this category, pure electric vehicle registrations rose 47.3% to secure a 7.6% market share, while plug-in hybrids rose 43.9% to reach 11.2%. Conversely, traditional internal combustion engines lost ground, with petrol registrations dropping 13.9% to a 17.7% share and diesel falling 39% to 4.9%. Autogas (LPG) accounted for the remaining 8.1% of the September market.

Stellantis brands and vehicle rankings

Stellantis recorded 38,704 registrations in September 2026 when including its Leapmotor joint venture, marking a 12.6% increase and lifting its Italian market share from 27.1% to 27.8%. Excluding Leapmotor, group sales rose 7.5% in the month to take a 26.2% share, while its nine-month sales climbed 6.2% to 379,936 units. The Fiat brand led all manufacturers with 15,876 registrations and an 11.4% market share, while also securing 12.2% of private sales. The Fiat Pandina finished as Italy's top-selling vehicle with 10,401 units and a 7.5% market share, followed by the Jeep Avenger in second place. Stellantis Italia managing director Antonella Bruno commented on the group's monthly results.

Results that reaffirm the strength of our brands.

Commercial momentum and industry reactions

The Leapmotor brand recorded 2,200 registrations in September 2026, representing a 453% rise compared to September 2025. The brand's T03 model led the electric A-segment among private buyers, while the newly launched B03X became the top-selling electric model in the B-SUV segment. Behind Fiat in brand rankings, Toyota finished second with a 6.6% increase, Volkswagen placed third despite a 7.86% drop, and Peugeot grew 34.3% in fourth. ANFIA president Roberto Vavassori expressed concern regarding the origin of expanding volumes.

We emphasize that almost all of the September increase belongs to cars produced in China, which account for 15.1% of registrations in the first nine months of the year.

UNRAE president Roberto Pietrantonio addressed the condition of Italy's vehicle fleet.

Fleet renewal must remain a strategic priority. The positive signals from the new car market are important, but read together with used car data, where about half of net transfers concern vehicles over ten years old, they clearly show that the real challenge is activating mechanisms capable of turning the recovery in registrations into a progressive rejuvenation of the fleet. That is where the real impact on mobility safety, efficiency, and sustainability is measured.