Alexandre
Lancia marks its return to Europe after a long absence, marked by a single model, the former Lancia Ypsilon, limited to the Italian market. In October 2024, we reveal the first registration figures for the new Lancia Ypsilon, unveiled in spring and now available in Italy, in Belgiumin the Netherlands and Luxembourg. While sales are just beginning in FranceSpain and Germany, this first period allows us to take the pulse of the market. In Italy, the only representative base for the moment, the start-up was more modest than expected, with 805 registrations in October, a figure that places it outside the top 50 best-selling cars.
A city car segment, a high-end price positioning
Competition is fierce in the city car segment in Italy, where the ranking is largely dominated by well-established models. Topping the top 5 is the Fiat Panda, followed by the Dacia Sandero, Jeep Avenger, Toyota Yaris and Peugeot 208. These are city cars and mini-SUVs which, for the most part, are available at more affordable prices than the new Ypsilon, which partly explains its absence from the top of the ranking.
Starting at €23,900, the new Ypsilon has a much higher price tag than the previous generation, selling for around €15,000 for the entry-level model and €18,000 for a better-equipped version. Manufactured in Poland, the previous generation was more affordable, but this is no longer the case. The price has practically doubled, marking a radical change of positioning for this city carStellantis has designed it to meet the standards of a demanding European premium clientele.
A premium city car in a competitive market
In this context, the Ypsilon's rivals benefit from more competitive pricing. In Italy, the Dacia Sandero, for example, starts at €13,850, the Peugeot 208 petrol at €13,000, and even the popular Fiat Panda starts at €11,000. In this price range, the new Lancia Ypsilon is the most expensive city car in ItalyThese are alongside small SUVs such as the Jeep Avenger (€25,000) and the Toyota Yaris Cross hybrid (€24,950).
This strategy could attract enthusiasts of top-of-the-range vehicles, but it also exposes Lancia to a major challenge: that of convince buyers to invest more in a city car model, when similar, and often more economical, options exist in the same segment. Initial figures for Italy therefore show that the brand will face a major challenge. However, the availability of the Ypsilon in other European markets could diversify and strengthen its performance.
Italy in the lead, but still a long way to go
While Italy remains its core market, Lancia is beginning to make its mark in Europe with this new-generation Ypsilon. This is an ambitious goal for Stellantis, who hopes that Lancia will return to success beyond its borders. The coming months, marked by the launch in France, Spain and Germany, will allow us to assess whether the Ypsilon succeeds in finding its audience despite its upmarket positioning. In the meantime, Lancia claims to have exceeded 10,000 orders for its Ypsilon, which should logically be reflected in registrations in the short term.
Only in fairy tales do the dead come back to life.
Not necessarily... for Lamborghini it's going rather well with the help of VAG 😉
It's funny how they never learn from their mistakes. After the fiasco of the rebadged Chryslers, they're back with Peugeots and boasting about their premium credentials!
And apparently this is also the case for the new Fiat and Alfa Romeo models, which I understand are also re-bodied Peugeot/Citroën models? I don't really see the point, and informed buyers won't be fooled. You've got to stop taking people for what they're not.
In short, the 600 and Ypsilon were semi-failures, but they can't afford to miss out with the big Panda, Multipla and Fastback.
Well, it took a while for the Avenger to climb the sales charts, so let's hope the 600 follows suit.
And the Tipo's replacement? What will Fiat's Turkish plant produce in the future???