ROME (ITALPRESS) – The worrying downturn in the Italian passenger car market continues: in February registrations stood at 137,922 units, almost 9,300 cars less than the 147,170 in February 2024 (a drop of 6.3%), which, however, had an extra business day. As a result, the first two months of the year ended with 271,638 registrations, down 6.1 percent compared to the same period in 2024, but a hefty -21.0 percent compared to 2019.
In February, the share of pure electric cars (BEVs) stands at only 5.0 percent, up from 3.4 percent in February 2024, which was affected by the pending start of incentives, but in line with January’s 5.0 percent. Plug-in hybrid cars (PHEVs) rise to 4.5 percent from 3.6 percent in January and 3.2 percent in February 2024. Overall, electrified cars (ECVs) reach a market share of 9.5 percent.
UNRAE recalls that last Feb. 26 the Clean Industrial Deal, the European Commission’s Communication aimed at accelerating both decarbonization and, in line with the Draghi Report, the competitiveness of European industry, was presented. Contrary to the initial statements of Executive Vice President Stéphane Séjourné, the document does not contain specific measures to revitalize the automotive sector but merely mentions some initiatives, such as the Automotive Action Plan, which will be presented next March 5.
Regarding the latter, however, a Commission document has been circulating and was distributed to participants at the February 27 meeting of the Strategic Dialogue on Automotive, the last meeting of which was held today. The document, which contains in draft form the first indications of the Action Plan, provides only the directions of what could be the Commission’s future actions between 2025 and 2026, articulated in 5 key areas: Innovation and Digitization, Clean Mobility, Supply Chain Competitiveness and Resilience, Workforce Qualification and Social Dimension, Level Playing Field and Business Environment.
“From these very first rumors about the European Commission’s ‘Action Plan,'” says Michele Crisci, President of UNRAE, “concrete measures to make the sector more competitive and decisively address the transition to decarbonization do not yet seem to emerge.” In particular, as far as “clean mobility” is concerned, the Commission in fact declares that it wants to concretely support the development of the demand for zero-emission cars, but it no longer speaks of European incentives for demand, but rather of recommendations to member states to enhance best practices and identify possible sources of funding to support their implementation. “With such an approach,” Crisci continues, “and without a centralized fund for their financing, the goal of obtaining homogeneous incentive programs at the European level is indefinitely distant.
On the other hand, UNRAE expresses appreciation for President Von der Leyen’s statement today regarding an amendment on regulations regarding penalties for non-compliance with CO2 emission targets, taking into account the real market difficulties: to be effective, the proposal, which would allow emissions to be calculated on the average of three years, will have to be quickly approved by the European Parliament and Council. Among the next steps, UNRAE will be involved on March 11 at the Automotive Table promoted by the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy (MIMIT). On that occasion, the Association will once again reiterate the need to establish at the national level a multi-year plan to support the demand for zero- or ultra-low-emission vehicles and to accelerate the development of charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure. UNRAE will also insist on the need to quickly reform the tax regime for company cars, which today is inadequate and penalizing compared to other European countries, to modulate VAT deductibility and cost deductibility based on CO2 emissions, with reduction of the depreciation period to 3 years. “The proposals,” Crisci concludes, “already extensively illustrated to institutions, will be able to help create a truly competitive and sustainable environment for the automotive sector in Italy.
-photo Ipa Agency-.
(ITALPRESS).
