Italy
The automotive sector is one of Italy’s major industries. According to July 2020 data, there were more than 5,500 companies operating in the sector, employing over 274,000 people, more than 7% of the Italian manufacturing workforce. In 2019, turnover was almost 106 billion euro (about $128 billion), which represents 11% of Italy’s manufacturing turnover and 6.2% of Italy’s GDP.
In 2019, the number of cars produced reached a total of 542,000 units (19.5% less than in 2018). Italy also had a sizable production of light commercial vehicles (312,000 units in 2019, 4% less than in 2018). The total (cars + light commercial vehicles) was 854,000 units. The production of trucks was about 60,000 units both in 2019 and 2018. The production of buses was in the last year almost negligible (about 500 units). Vehicle production in 2020 fell sharply in the first months of the year and grew in the final months. Provisional data highlight about 720,000 vehicles (cars + light commercial vehicles) produced in 2020, https://www.repubblica.it/economia/2021/01/05/news/la_produzione_di_auto_in_italia_e_scesa_del_12_4_nel_2020-281229491/
The Italian auto components sector had a turnover of 49.2 billion euro (about $59 billion) in 2019, 4% less than in 2018. There were about 2,200 companies in the sector, which employed over 160,000 workers. Piedmont is the heart of the Italian automotive industry (companies in this area account for about 40% of national production).
The current production evolution from thermal engines to electromobility (hybrid and electric) is reshaping the sector and may offer opportunities to U.S. manufacturers of vehicle components, charging infrastructures and diagnostic equipment for maintaining new hybrid and electric vehicles. There are also opportunities for car tuning, but Italian regulations are stricter than European ones, especially as concerns mechanical alterations to vehicles. Most alterations need to be approved by the car manufacturer and highlighted in the documentation that travels with the vehicle.
Summary
The Italian Market
In 2020 new vehicle registrations in Italy were 1,381,496, compared to 1,916,949 in 2019, a reduction of 28%. Market leaders included:
Leading Brands:
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U.S. Brands:
o Ford Motor Company sold 89,558 units in 2020, i.e. 6.48% of total (122,567, i.e. 6.39%, in 2019)
https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/il-2020-dell-auto-si-chiude-volumi-calo-279percento-nell-anno-covid-ADOx5YBB
The market for used vehicles is very important in Italy. In 2020 it also shrank by 28% to slightly more than 3 million used vehicles sold, https://www.anfia.it/data/portale-anfia/comunicazione_eventi/comunicati_stampa/2021/Nota_stampa_ANFIA_Struttura_mercato_Vetture_Italia_DIC_2020.pdf .
Summary
The Birth of Stellantis
In January 2021, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and Peugeot SA (PSA) sealed their long-awaited merger to create Stellantis, the world’s fourth-largest automotive group with an intention to shift to electric vehicles and to take on larger rivals such as Toyota, Volkswagen, and Renault-Nissan. The Stellantis Group currently owns 14 brands: Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Chrysler, Citroen, Dodge, DS, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram and Vauxhall. Some of these brands, such as Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Vauxhall, are found in smaller regional markets. For example, Alfa Romeo and Lancia are mainly sold in Italy or nearby countries, while Vauxhall is sold in the UK and some other countries with a left-hand drive. Not all these brands are expected to survive in the medium-long term if keeping them proves to be extremely costly. Altogether, FCA and PSA sold in Italy 537,485 units in 2020, i.e. 38.9% of total (752,253, i.e. 39.24%, in 2019), a significant portion of the local market.
Stellantis is expected to cut annual costs by over 5 billion euros (about $6.05 billion) without plant closures. Like all global automakers, Stellantis needs to invest billions in the years ahead to transform its vehicle range for the electric era. Other pressing tasks loom, including reviving the group’s lagging fortunes in China, rationalizing its huge global footprint and addressing massive overcapacity.
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