In April 2025, the Italian industrial vehicle market recorded a further slowdown, underlining the structural difficulties facing the heavy vehicle segment in particular. According to estimates by the Unrae Study and Statistics Centre, based on data from the Ministry of Transport, April ended with 2,320 new registrations of vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, slightly down from the 2,340 recorded in April 2024, a drop of 0.9%.
While the overall figure appears relatively stable, a closer look reveals a clear polarisation. The lightest segment (3.51 to 6 tonnes) showed a marked increase of 148.9%, rising from 90 to 224 units, driven largely by registrations of electric vehicles up to 4.25 tonnes. The medium-light segment (6.01 to 15.99 tonnes) remained stable, with 247 vehicles registered, a slight rise of 0.8% compared to 245 the previous year.
The most concerning figures come from the heavy segment (vehicles of 16 tonnes or more), which fell by 7.8%, from 2,005 to 1,849 units. Within this category, divergent trends are evident: rigid chassis trucks rose by 3.7%, from 786 to 815 units, while road tractors suffered a sharp downturn, with 1,034 units registered versus 1,219 in April 2024, a decline of 15.2%.
According to Unrae’s analysts, cumulative data from the first four months of 2025 confirms the negative trajectory of the industrial vehicle market above 3.5 tonnes. Between January and April, 9,425 vehicles were registered, down from 10,173 in the same period in 2024, representing an overall drop of 7.35%. January recorded a 13.7% decline, March fell by 13.8%, February saw a modest recovery (+1.8%), and April ended with a slight drop of 0.9%.
Broken down by weight class, the light vehicle segment (3.51-6 tonnes) grew sharply, up 55.7% on the same period in 2024, again supported by battery-powered vehicles. The medium-light segment (6.01-15.99 tonnes) dropped by 13.9%, while the heavy segment (≥16 tonnes) remained in difficulty, with an 8.9% fall. Within this category, rigid chassis trucks posted a moderate increase of 5.4%, but road tractors – a key indicator for freight transport and the logistics industry – saw a severe drop of 17.4% over the four-month period.
“April confirms the downward trend in the market, only partially offset by growth in the light vehicle segment,” said Paolo A. Starace, president of the Unrae Industrial Vehicles Section. “The heavy vehicle sector, on the other hand, continues to reflect the difficulties seen in recent months, especially in the road tractor segment.” Starace voiced concern over the absence of institutional support for the sector. “Despite recent reassurances and announcements regarding the possible creation of a dedicated multi-year fund, there has been no concrete intervention to date. Such statements, if not followed by swift and tangible action, risk further depressing demand and worsening an already critical situation.”
