Italian car sales rise as France hits 15-year January low

Tuesday 03 February 2026 - 13:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Italian car sales rise as France hits 15-year January low

Italy's new car registrations bucked the European trend in January 2026, climbing 6.2 percent year-on-year to around 142,000 vehicles, according to transport ministry data. This uptick offers relief after a 2.1 percent decline across 2025, when total sales settled at roughly 1.56 million units. Stellantis led the charge with an 11 percent surge, securing a 32.6 percent market share through strong performances from brands like Fiat, Jeep, and Peugeot.

Chinese manufacturers continued their aggressive push into Europe, with BYD sales exploding by about 330 percent to 3,553 units and Chery's Omoda/Jaecoo brands soaring 357 percent to 2,496 vehicles. Tesla also posted a 75 percent gain to 713 units, though analysts caution that low base volumes can amplify monthly swings.

Across the Alps, France grappled with sharper headwinds, as registrations plunged 6.55 percent to 107,157 vehicles; the lowest January figure in 15 years, per the Automotive Platform. This extends a tough stretch, with 2025 sales down more than five percent to 1.63 million units, the weakest annual total in a half-century. Stellantis dipped 2.7 percent, Renault eked out a 1.1 percent rise, and Tesla tumbled 42 percent to 661 vehicles, its lowest monthly mark in over three years. Marie-Laure Nivot of AAA Data noted that a January spike in electric vehicle sales, fueled by purchase incentives, obscures the broader market weakness.

Further east, Romania illustrates Europe's uneven automotive shift. Data from the previous year reveal that seven out of every ten passenger cars among over 548,600 registrations were used vehicles, according to the Driving Licenses and Vehicle Registration Directorate. Volkswagen topped overall registrations with a 27 percent share, exceeding 148,000 units, while budget-friendly Dacia dominated new car sales at 29 percent thanks to low prices and maintenance costs. BMW rounded out the leaders, reflecting Romanian buyers' focus on value amid varying paces of the continent's green fleet transition.