Six months have passed in 2026. It has now been a little over a year since Antonio Filosa took the helm at Stellantis, and more than a year since Fiat has begun shipping its Fiat Grande Panda, and it's been about six months since the new Fiat 500 hybrid has begun sales. This makes it the perfect time to take an initial look at the Italian brand's global performance.
And the picture is mixed: Fiat is regaining ground in several major markets, thanks in particular to the Grande Panda, but some models are already raising questions.
Brazil: Still Fiat's Stronghold
As is often the case, let’s start with Brazil, Fiat’s largest market worldwide. It’s a country that Antonio Filosa knows particularly well, since he spent much of his career there between 2006 and 2023, gradually rising through the ranks.
June 2026 was a very strong month, with 49,080 new vehicle registrations. While this isn’t an all-time record, it places Fiat at the high end of its recent performance range—and, more importantly, represents an increase of nearly 8,000 cars compared to June 2025.
For the first half of 2026 as a whole, Fiat recorded a total of 270,946 registrations, compared with 241,428 a year earlier. That represents a 12 % increase. It’s hard to predict how the year will end, but if this momentum continues, Fiat could approach 600,000 registrations in Brazil in 2026. This impressive volume confirms the strength of the local strategy, with a comprehensive lineup tailored to the market. The next challenge, however, will be an interesting one: the arrival of the Fiat Grande Panda, a model designed primarily for Europe. It remains to be seen whether the formula will work just as well on the other side of the Atlantic.
Italy: Finally, a New Beginning Thanks to the Grande Panda
Italy remains Fiat's second-largest market worldwide—and, above all, its most symbolic one. After several difficult years, the numbers are finally heading in the right direction.
In June 2026, Fiat registered 14,016 cars, compared with 11,023 in June 2025. For the full half-year, the brand recorded 106,629 registrations, compared to 82,466 the previous year—a 29.% increase. Even better: Fiat is performing better than in 2024 and 2023. Finally, the brand is gaining ground in its home market.
But a closer look at the figures reveals a more complex picture. The classic Fiat Panda remains the top-selling model with 62,852 units. In other words, the old Panda still accounts for more than half of Fiat’s sales in Italy. This is obviously excellent news for the Termoli plant, which continues to produce GSE engines, but it also highlights the immense challenge facing its replacement.
The pleasant surprise comes from the Grande Panda. With 23,011 registrations, it ranks third in its segment behind the Jeep Avenger (another Stellantis model). This is an encouraging result after just one year on the market. However, only 1,169 of those were electric models.
Then things get complicated. The Fiat 600 ranks only 27th with 9,458 units, including 602 electric models. For a model launched in 2023 and expected to spearhead Fiat’s revival in Europe, the results are mixed. As for the Fiat 500, the situation is even more dire: it doesn’t even appear in Italy’s top 50. That translates to fewer than 5,400 registrations over six months. All we know is that the electric version accounts for 764 units. It has to be said: in Italy, this is a failure.
The comparison is all the more interesting given that the Leapmotor T03, a small Chinese electric car sold at a competitive price, has reached 21,841 registrations. This is an important indicator for the future electric Panda: in Italy, price seems to be the key factor.
Argentina: Back to Normal After the Euphoria
As Fiat's third-largest market, Argentina continues to post strong sales figures, but the exceptional period of 2025 appears to be over.
In June 2026, Fiat registered 4,413 cars, compared with 7,201 in June 2025. For the first half of the year, the brand reached 33,054 units, down 22 % from the 42,332 registrations in the first half of 2025. The Fiat Cronos remains the brand’s flagship model in the country.
Turkey: What Does the Future Hold After the Tipo?
For a long time, Turkey was Fiat’s third-largest market worldwide, mainly thanks to the Tipo. But year after year, this market seems to have been gradually neglected. While the Tipo had already been phased out in Europe, it continued to be sold locally. A chapter has come to a close, as production officially ended on June 30, 2026.
Fiat still had a very good June with 6,534 registrations, likely driven by the model’s end-of-life. In the first half of 2026, the brand sold 24,135 cars, compared to 33,068 a year earlier. It will be interesting to see what happens next. Fiat is expected to continue clearing out its Tipo inventory, while the Grande Panda is now hitting the market, likely via production in Algeria.
Germany: The Electric Grande Panda Is Gaining a Following
In Germany, Fiat is also rebounding, with 16,601 registrations in the first half of 2026, compared with just 8,663 a year earlier. The increase is significant, even though the brand is still below 2023 levels, when it exceeded 19,000 units.
Here are the details:
- Fiat 500: 7,547 units (including 2,390 hybrids)
- Fiat Grande Panda: 4,562 units (including 2,095 electric models)
- Fiat 600: 2,690 units (including 202 electric vehicles)
- Fiat Panda: 1,116 units
Two interesting findings: one in three Fiat 500s is now sold as a hybrid, while nearly one in two Grande Pandas is electric. On the other hand, as in Italy, the Fiat 600 is struggling to win over buyers. Too expensive? Not «Dolce Vita» enough? A positioning problem seems to be emerging.
France: Fiat Is Rebounding, But Not Yet Back to Where It Was
The trend is the same in France. After several difficult years, Fiat is making progress, with 16,471 registrations in the first half of 2026, compared to 9,738 a year earlier. But keep in mind: the brand is still far from the more than 20,000 units sold in 2023 and 2024. We’ll likely have to wait until 2027 to see if Fiat truly regains its momentum.
Here are the details:
- Fiat Panda: 2,870 units
- Fiat 500: 2,423 units (including 1,708 electric models)
- Fiat Grande Panda: 2,368 units (including 1,621 electric models)
- Fiat 600: 1,144 units (including 956 electric vehicles)
- Fiat Tipo: 275 units
The figures are very similar to those in Germany, with one notable difference: Germans buy more Fiat 500s, while the French remain more attached to the Panda.
Spain: An Almost Imperceptible Increase
In Spain, the results are much less impressive. Fiat recorded 6,829 registrations in the first half of 2026, compared with 6,536 in 2025. With the arrival of the Grande Panda and the Fiat 500 Hybrid, one might have hoped for better.
The breakdown is surprising:
- Fiat 600: 2,805 units
- Fiat 500: 1,640 units
- Fiat Grande Panda: 1,427 units
- Fiat Panda: 851 units
- Fiat Tipo: 104 units
Unlike in other countries, the Fiat 600 is the top-selling model in the lineup. However, its sales are down by about 30 % compared to the previous year. Ultimately, it is the Grande Panda that makes up for this decline.
United Kingdom: Fiat Overwhelmed by the Chinese Wave
The United Kingdom remains a weak spot. Fiat recorded only 3,748 registrations in the first half of 2026, compared with 6,136 in 2025, 8,647 in 2024, and more than 10,000 in 2023.
The brand is struggling significantly in a market where Chinese automakers are growing very rapidly. By way of comparison, BYD has already reached 37,795 registrations, Jaecoo 34,067, Omoda 18,761, and Chery 17,979. This is obviously no excuse, but it shows just how rapidly the British market is changing.
Japan: Italian women's love is no longer enough
Regular readers of Italpassion know this: Japan loves Italian cars, especially for their style and the excitement they evoke. But this affection is no longer reflected in the sales figures.
Fiat recorded 1,561 registrations in the first half of 2026, compared with 1,856 in 2025, 2,199 in 2024, and 2,377 in 2023. The trend is clear: the current lineup no longer seems to meet the expectations of the Japanese market.
United States: Fiat Continues to Push
In the United States, Fiat is pursuing a strategy that is difficult to understand. Olivier François, Fiat's CEO, has always made clear his desire to make the brand successful in the North American market.
Today, the lineup consists mainly of the electric Fiat 500, now joined by the small Topolino, for which the first deliveries have just begun. The result: 237 registrations in six months. It’s hard to imagine that the return on investment for these marketing efforts is positive, but the United States seems to remain Fiat’s little guilty pleasure.
Conclusion: Progress, but Still Many Questions
Fiat's results for the first half of 2026 are encouraging, but they should be viewed with some caution.
In Latin America, the strategy is working perfectly. The product lineup is well-suited to the market, sales volumes are rising, and Brazil could reach nearly 600,000 units in 2026.
In Europe, the situation is more precarious. The Grande Panda is off to a very strong start, particularly in Italy, but Fiat still relies heavily on the older Panda model there. The example of Leapmotor also shows that an affordable small electric car priced under €15,000 could be a real opportunity—provided that manufacturers don’t abandon hybrids too quickly, or they risk cutting sales volumes in half.
The Fiat 600, on the other hand, seems to need some tweaking. It has potential, but it likely lacks either better pricing and engine options or more emotional appeal in its design and interior.
As for the Fiat 500, its future will likely involve a less expensive electric version with a longer range. Unfortunately, the Mirafiori plant in Italy still has cause for concern; the days of producing 180,000 Fiat 500s a year are long gone.
Finally, it would be premature to attribute these more positive results in Europe to Antonio Filosa. The Fiat Grande Panda, the Fiat 600, and the Fiat 500 Hybrid are projects carried over from the Carlos Tavares era. Filosa’s true track record will become clear with the upcoming major launches: the next-generation Panda, scheduled for 2028, and the next generation of the Fiat 500, expected around 2030. For the Fiat Grizzly The model, which is set to be unveiled in a few months, will be a collaboration between Carlos Tavares and Antonio Filosa.
| Country | First half of 2026 | Evolution |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 270946 | 12% |
| Italy | 106629 | 29% |
| Argentina | 33054 | -22% |
| Turkey | 24135 | -27% |
| Germany | 16601 | 92% |
| France | 16471 | 69% |
| Spain | 6829 | 4% |
| United Kingdom | 3748 | -39% |
| Japan | 1561 | -16% |
| United States | 237 | -74% |
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Thanks for the numbers. I think back to the days when they used to sell more than 500,000 Puntos a year… all those customers lost as new model lines came along… As for the 600, the problem is the car itself. Like the DS3, the concept is flawed.
In what ways is the 600 a lemon (excluding the PureTech)?
The design of the 600 compared to the 500 X, which was much more successful and sold far better. .
So we agree on that, then. I, too, have always thought the 500X was better than the 600.
The 500X Yatching—I love it whenever I see one!
It's ugly; it tries to imitate a 500X, but you can tell it's a 2008 with rounded corners, and the driving experience is utilitarian: the chassis is okay—it's less rigid than the 500X—but the engine…
Seriously, @Hans, did you even take a second to compare global auto sales before 2020 AND after? 😉
You'll see that they're in a league of their own.
For the past 15 years, Fiat has been under attack from Dacia and Korean automakers
And now, the Chinese and the market have never recovered from the COVID crisis.
P.S.: The declines actually date back to before the merger.
You don’t have to be an idiot to understand that 500,000 is a figure to use as a customer base. Of course, by 2025, no one will be selling that many of a single model anymore, but Renault, for example, sells 450,000 Clio and Sandero models combined (which are practically the same thing for them). Fiat, on the other hand, has simply lost that market!!
I mean, 500,000 a year—nobody does that anymore in Europe! We're not in the '90s anymore.
Sluggish markets, recession/inflation, rising vehicle prices, increased competition, new brands that have emerged over the past 30 years, an aging vehicle fleet, other household expenses… In short, there’s no shortage of factors. Comparing the situation to the 1990s no longer makes any sense.
Absolutely, @Fred
I don't understand why the Fiat CEO hasn't been fired yet. He's totally ruining the brand. Fiat simply didn’t learn from others like Renault, Peugeot, etc. They keep the Clio and the 208 on the market, and those are the best sellers… The new Punto should have been developed and released, following in the footsteps of the legendary Grande Punto.
Unfortunately, I completely agree. I drive a Punto Evo myself—and before that, a Grande Punto—and I really enjoy it. But I don’t see an appealing successor in the current lineup. That’s a shame. It’s also a shame for the customers who are switching to other brands as a result.
That was FCA's policy 😔
The 500 and the 600 aren't selling anymore. We're sticking with the original Panda. The Grande Panda isn't really «dolce vita,» but it's selling well, so we'll see how it goes over time.
We need to be creative and set ourselves apart from Citroën, whose current and future models seem very similar.
But seriously, isn’t anyone seeing that the problem with Stellantis—and especially Fiat—is Europe’s environmental madness or ecological suicide? Brazil, outside the European sphere, is the global sales leader, not Italy—the headquarters—and the Fiat 500, which has gone from 70 cv (which was already not much) to a ridiculous 64 cv; give it 100 cv and you’ll see how it takes off, and the large electric Panda, 1,100 units vs. 23K gasoline models. Just another overpriced gimmick—that’s why anyone looking for an electric car is looking for Chinese prices. Either the U.S. wakes up now, or this industry will be dead, just like in the UK.
I'm glad to see that the 600 is now a success… especially given the overall state of the auto markets since 2020!
With the Fiat Grizzly, things should get even better.
Finally, the chapter on FCA is coming to a close.
But we need to replace the 500 right away!
Great job on the numbers! @Alexandre Filluzeau
It's still way better than what the trolls have to say. 😉
Overall, Fiat sales are on the rise, which is a positive sign.
I don't see why the Fiat 600 wouldn't be appealing (as long as it doesn't have the PureTech engine—the FireFly would be much better); I found it enjoyable when I rented it recently.
The Fiat Pandina is unbeatable as a small city car, no matter how old it is.
I think it's missing some special editions. The 500X had plenty of them—Cross, Yachting, etc.—with a wide range of engine options.
Computer problems with the Fiat 600 hybrid are causing customers to give it a wide berth...
Frequent outages due to a malfunction in the BCM. .
It’s really sad to see the state of FIAT here in the U.K. I’m 51 years old, and I remember when Unos were everywhere in the “80s, Puntos were everywhere here in the ”90s, and the previous “new” 500 was even a top 10 seller some months. And now… it’s all been lost for reasons I won’t go into again. I hope things can change here. (At least we’re one of the few markets where Alfa is doing well!)
And now Fiat is apparently pulling out of the Australian market. 🙁
I’m eligible for the social leasing program, and I didn’t hesitate: the red electric Grand Panda. I’m really looking forward to getting it in November. We’ve always had Fiats (Uno, Tipo, Panda). I hope everything is done to ensure this brand continues for a long time to come. 🥰