Cars, one million Nlt cars on the road in 2025

Yes, because in reality there has been a retreat, not a stalemate, which can be understood by looking at registrations. Long-term rental in 2025 bought 350 thousand cars, an increase of 37 thousand over 2024. All well, then? Not at all. The 'non-captive' companies, i.e. not part of a car group, bought 15 thousand fewer cars, a sign that there has been some cooling of demand.

On the other hand, the captives registered as many as 50,000 more. How come, who ordered them? Most, if not all, no one. That is, no customers. But the manufacturer did, perhaps to secure a certain quota of low-emission cars that will come in handy when counting fines for emissions exceeding the impossible targets set by the Commission. The proof lies in the first four months of this year.

The captives are now travelling at minus 15%, so much so that they have come out loaded since 2025; on the other hand, the others are up 9%, a sign that a light is beginning to show. But who had turned out the light? The regulator, by intervening in the tax legislation of company car assignees. We have said it at length, but it is worth remembering.

Those who order an electric or plug-in hybrid car receive a benefit in the pay packet of up to 600 euros, whereas if they order a plug-in hybrid they will receive a beating of over a thousand euros. The combination (minus 600 and plus one thousand) looks a lot like 'an offer you can't refuse'.

And yet, there are those who have made the big refusal: choosing to keep their old car. For now, of course, but the signal has come through loud and clear to the higher ups at Aniasa: if you pull the rope too far, it could snap.

That is why the newly elected president Italo Folonari, an enlightened entrepreneur, is mobilising the association so that Brussels does not proceed with the idea of imposing draught fuels on fleets.

The aim would be to force penetration and ensure some return for the car industry, which has been in it for tens of billions in investment. The result, however, risks being a return for many to their own car with mileage reimbursement: without the ball, there is no match.

Now back to private individuals, whose fleet in Nlt last year increased by 8 thousand units, perfectly in line with the average annual growth since pre-Covid: Cagr +4 per cent.

In six years, however, their share of the total fleet in Nlt has fallen from 15 to 14 per cent: at this rate, it will take twenty years to reach one million managed vehicles. In terms of turnover it is even worse, with the share at 12 per cent.

Yes, because if the average annual fee for companies and the PA is 7,200 euros, private individuals are close to six thousand. It is difficult to keep pretending that everything is fine and that there is nothing to fix. Many renters are convinced that one point is the ability to explain the product to these new customers.

Considering that half of the sales are now made by the indirect network of brokers, it seems a comfortable way to move the problem out of the way. Maybe so, but besides knowing how to sell there is also a question of knowing how to manage and deliver a service that is satisfactory and in line with a client's expectations. Such is the homework for this year.