Citroën Italy: strong growth in october 2025 as C3 tops sales charts

Italy has always maintained a special relationship with Citroën. As the brand's second-most important market just after France, the Italian peninsula has historically embraced the audacity, comfort, and design of the "chevrons." This appreciation shows no signs of waning in 2025. The latest sales results from October confirm this underlying trend, illustrating a very positive dynamic for the brand. Citroën is recording strong performances, particularly with private customers—a key indicator of a brand's desirability. This success is largely driven by the exceptional reception of the Citroën C3, which is already establishing itself as an essential benchmark in this strategic market.

Robust commercial dynamics in the Italian market

Figures from the first ten months of 2025, consolidated by Dataforce, demonstrate the solid foundation of Citroën's strategy in Italy. Over this period, the brand has achieved an overall market share of 3.8%. Even more significant is the focus on the private customer sales channel: compared to the same period in 2024, Citroën has grown by +0.5% in this retail space. This growth accelerated in October, with the brand posting an impressive +1.1% progression in the same private channel compared to October 2024.

This market share performance naturally translates into a notable increase in volume. In October, the number of registrations jumped by more than 1,500 units compared to the same month last year. This increase is supported by a very encouraging sign that reflects the renewed confidence of Italian motorists: the number of private customers opting for leasing agreements surged by 56% compared to 2024. This sharp rise indicates not only an attraction to the new models but also an embrace of the modern mobility solutions offered by the brand.

Citroën's growth in Italy is not limited to passenger cars. The commercial vehicle sector (LCVs) is also contributing to this positive dynamic. The market share for Citroën commercial vehicles shows an increase of +0.2% over the first ten months of 2025, compared to 2024. This balanced performance between passenger and commercial vehicles demonstrates the relevance of the brand's comprehensive offerings, meeting the needs of families and professionals alike. These solid year-to-date results, confirmed by an acceleration in October, lay a strong foundation for the end of the year and set the stage for the true engine of this growth: the C3.

The C3: cornerstone of success and a dual leader

Citroën's commercial success in Italy rests heavily on its flagship city car. The previous generation C3 was an absolute bestseller in the country, winning over Italian drivers for years with its unique style and comfort. The new, fourth-generation Citroën C3, launched recently, had the ambitious task of carrying this torch. Initial results show it is succeeding brilliantly, perfectly following in its predecessor's footsteps while asserting its own identity.

The New C3 has quickly become the cornerstone of Citroën's commercial strategy in Italy. It achieves the remarkable feat of succeeding simultaneously on two fronts that might seem contradictory: traditional combustion and 100% electric. The figures speak for themselves: the petrol version of the C3 is, quite simply, the best-selling petrol car in Italy over the first ten months of 2025. This outstanding performance in such a competitive market demonstrates that its bold design, redefined comfort, and practicality continue to appeal to a broad customer base.

At the same time, the New ë-C3 electric model confirms its leadership position. It is the best-selling 100% electric model in its segment, both in October and cumulatively since the beginning of the year. This success validates Citroën's strategy of making electric mobility accessible without compromise. The C3's multi-energy offering is the key to this achievement. It provides unique flexibility to Italian customers, who can choose the powertrain best suited to their needs: an efficient petrol version, a high-performing 100% electric version, or the new Hybrid powertrain. The latter combines the eDCT dual-clutch automatic transmission with an integrated 21 kW electric motor, offering a smooth driving experience and reduced consumption.

A "Love Story" that continues to strengthen

The history between Italy and Citroën is a long-running one, but the 2025 results prove it is more alive than ever. The brand continues to win the hearts of Italians, and the most telling indicator is the significant increase in sales to private customers. This retail segment is paramount because it reflects a genuine choice by the customer—a "purchase of the heart" for the product, its design, and its features.

Unlike sales to businesses or rental fleets, which are often driven by price and discount logic, a private customer's choice is a direct vote of confidence in the brand and its model. The fact that Citroën is growing so strongly in this channel (+0.5% year-to-date and +1.1% in October) is an extremely positive sign. It shows that Italians are buying a Citroën for what it is. This success, driven by a New C3 that dominates both the petrol and electric charts, provides excellent hope that this positive momentum will continue long into the coming months.