The Italian market for light commercial vehicles (up to 3.5 tonnes) recorded its fourth consecutive decline in November 2024, with 16,107 registrations – over 3,000 fewer than the 19,151 recorded in the same month of 2023. The 15.9% drop reflects a volatile 2024, characterised by growth in the first half of the year, driven by orders accumulated in 2023, followed by a downturn in the second half.
Over the first 11 months of 2024, the market still managed a 2.5% increase, with 183,336 registrations compared to 178,829 during the same period in 2023. UNRAE projects the year will end with 198,000 registrations, representing a modest 0.7% growth over 2023. However, forecasts for 2025 point to a 4% decline, with total registrations expected to reach 190,000.
A concerning trend is the sharp decline in electric vehicle registrations, which accounted for just 1.9% of the market in the first 11 months of 2024, down from 3.3% during the same period in 2023. Nonetheless, November showed a slight rebound to 2.5%, compared to 1.9% in November 2023. Among traditional powertrains, diesel continues to dominate with an 84% share (+3.8 points), while petrol, LPG, methane, and plug-in hybrids are losing ground. The weighted average CO2 emissions for the first 11 months of 2024 increased by 3.6%, reaching 195.8 g/km compared to 188.9 g/km in 2023.
UNRAE President Michele Crisci highlighted challenges linked to the 2024 Ecobonus scheme, which has structural issues that left approximately €14 million of the €53 million budget unspent. "We hope for the adoption of a multi-year plan starting in 2025, incorporating adjustments to enhance incentive effectiveness and targeted financial resources, such as fiscal measures, to achieve the EU's energy transition goals," Crisci stated.
In line with the Competitiveness Report presented by Mario Draghi, UNRAE stressed the urgent need to develop a robust charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, which remains inadequate at a European level. The association has proposed a 50% tax credit on investments in fast-charging stations (above 70 kW) for the 2025–2027 period, deeming this measure critical to supporting zero-emission mobility.
Despite the challenges, the market showed growth across major sales channels. Private buyers maintained a 15% market share, short-term rentals rose to 6.2%, and companies and public entities consolidated their leading position with 39.8% of the total. However, dealer self-registrations and long-term rentals both experienced a decline in market share.
