The Italian industrial vehicle market closed 2025 in contraction, despite a recovery in the final part of the year. According to analyses by Unrae’s Research and Statistics Centre, based on data from the Ministry of Transport, registrations of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight above 3.5 tonnes reached 27,755 units, a decline of 2.6% compared with 28,491 in 2024.
The annual figure reflects an uneven trend across segments. Light vehicles from 3.51 to 6 tonnes recorded growth of 27.2%, rising from 985 to 1,253 units, while vehicles between 6.01 and 15.99 tonnes fell by 11.1% to 3,010 registrations. The heavy vehicle segment above 16 tonnes, which represents the largest share of the market, closed at 23,492 units, down 2.6% on 2024. Within this category, performance was mixed, with rigid trucks up 2.8% to 10,218 units and road tractors down 6.4% to 13,274 registrations.
December nevertheless showed signs of renewed momentum. Total registrations exceeded 2,100 units, up 14.6% from 1,838 in the same month of 2024. Growth was driven mainly by heavy vehicles above 16 tonnes, which recorded a 15.8% year-on-year increase, and by light vehicles, which almost doubled volumes with a rise of 93.7%. Medium-duty vehicles moved against the trend, falling by 6.4% compared with December a year earlier.
Commenting on the results, Giovanni Dattoli, president of Unrae’s Industrial Vehicles Section, noted that growth in the final four months of the year was not sufficient to offset the weakness seen during the rest of 2025, particularly in the tractor segment. According to Dattoli, prospects for 2026 depend on the implementation of structural measures to support fleet renewal, starting with the extraordinary multi-year fund of €590 million aimed at incentivising the most technologically and environmentally advanced vehicles.
Unrae also views positively the refinancing of instruments such as the New Sabatini scheme and hyper-depreciation measures included in the Budget Law, which could provide tangible support to haulage companies. However, the association stresses the urgency of clarifying the rules for using the €19 million already allocated by the Ministry of Transport for fleet decarbonisation, so that these resources can be effectively integrated with the extraordinary fund.
Overall, the 2025 data point to a market that remains fragile, marked by short-term signs of recovery but still lacking a structural turnaround. Segment dynamics confirm that fleet renewal and the transition to next-generation vehicles continue to depend heavily on stable incentive policies and operating conditions capable of reducing the total cost of ownership for transport operators.
