After a summer marked by a significant downturn, the Italian market for industrial vehicles is once again showing growth. According to estimates from Unrae's Center for Studies and Statistics, based on registration data provided by the Ministry of Transport, 1,710 vehicles were registered in September 2024, marking a 6.5% increase compared to the 1,605 units registered in the same month of 2023. This growth is mainly driven by the heavy-duty segment, which recorded an 11.6% increase with 1,535 vehicles registered.
In contrast, light industrial vehicles up to 6 tonnes experienced a 12.2% decline, while those between 6.01 and 15.99 tonnes saw an even steeper drop of 26.5%. Despite the recovery in September, total registrations since the beginning of the year amount to 22,501 units, reflecting a modest 2.2% increase compared to the first nine months of 2023.
Paolo Starace, President of the Industrial Vehicles Section of Unrae, explains that "after a challenging summer, September saw a rebound in registrations, driven by the heavy-duty segment. However, the overall market outlook remains concerning: the decline experienced over the summer has eroded much of the growth accumulated in the first half of the year, and the recent recovery appears fragile and temporary. Given these trends, we estimate that the decline will continue in the coming months, and the market will close the year with similar values to 2023, with an expected total between 28,500 and 29,000 units."
Starace also expressed doubts about the recent Decree for fleet renewal, which provides 25 million euros for incentives: "The funds allocated for incentives could have been used more effectively. The measure does not seem to adequately address the real needs of the sector, with a scheme offering insufficient resources. In practice, the additional contribution will support the purchase of fewer than two hundred vehicles, and the reservation mechanism will likely confirm the limitations of the click day system."
Finally, Starace drew attention to ongoing European files: "Despite discussions in Brussels, the decarbonization targets for manufacturers remain unchanged, and the European Commission's stance on the ecological transition does not seem likely to change. We fear that failing to meet these targets could lead to heavy penalties for manufacturers, who will have to bear the full cost of the transition." Starace hopes for more forward-looking measures from the government to ensure fleet renewal and support the sector in a challenging economic environment, emphasizing the importance of establishing an extraordinary fund dedicated to fleet renewal.
