Italian automotive sector shows divergence: body shops report work dip as city‑car sales surge

A Federcarrozzieri survey finds that 39.7% of Italian car body shops reported a decline in work in recent months, with marked regional variation. The strongest drops were recorded in Piemonte (50% of shops), Emilia‑Romagna (46.2%) and Veneto (44.8%). Other workshops continue to handle high volumes and cite difficulties finding qualified staff, indicating the slowdown is not uniform across the country.

Meanwhile, the Italian passenger‑car market posted robust growth in the A‑segment (city cars and ultra‑compact SUVs) during the first half of 2026. Registrations rose 29% year‑on‑year to 127,000 units, far outpacing the overall market’s 9.7% increase and lifting the segment’s share from 11.4% to 13.5%. The Fiat Panda remained the top seller with 62,852 units, the electric Leapmotor T03 surged by 1,651%, and models such as the Toyota Aygo X, Fiat 500 and Kia Picanto also recorded double‑digit gains.