Sales of new passenger cars in Italy reached 170 thousand in March 2021, according to ACEA. This is 499%, or 141 thousand more than in the previous year. In the first three months of 2021, some 447 thousand cars were sold, up 28.9% yoy.
In the fourth quarter of 2020, sales of new electrically-chargeable passenger cars reached 29.9 thousand in Italy, up 457% yoy. Together with hybrid and other alternative fuels, sale of alternative fuel vehicles reached 39.6% of all new cars sold.
Sales of traditionally-powered vehicles using petrol and diesel reached 251 thousand or 60.4% of total in the fourth quarter of 2020 in Italy. The share of petrol reached 32.1% and of diesel-powered vehicles 28.2% of all new passenger cars sold.
In Europe, sales of new cars rose 62.7% to 1,388 thousand in March. Within the first three months of the year, the increase reached 0.849% as 3,081 thousand cars were sold.
Volkswagen Group sold the most cars in March 2021 in Europe, some 341 thousand vehicles representing 24.6% of the European market. Sales of PSA Group amounted to 212 thousand vehicles (or 15.3% of the market) while Renault Group and BMW Group held 7.80% and 7.50% of the market. Overall, the five largest manufacturers sold 62.3% of all new cars in March.