56% of Italian car owners believe it is necessary to postpone the replacement of their vehicle due to economic uncertainties and lack of attractive offers.
According to the latest report from the Findomestic Observatory on the automotive sector, more than half of Italians postpone the purchase of a new car – although they consider it necessary – due to economic uncertainties and the lack of attractive offers. Financial prudence is a priority among motorists, with only 7% of respondents planning to buy a new car by 2024. The majority of owners prefer to postpone the decision for as long as possible, reflecting a growing concern for economic sustainability in a context of inflation and rising operating costs.
Cars in the family are decreasing
Data from April 2024 reveals that 41% of respondents are considering reducing the number of cars in their household. The main reasons include high running costs (79%), changes in family needs (16%) and a greater preference for other means of transport (16%). This trend underlines a growing sensitivity towards economic efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Only 23% find incentives useful
The decision to replace a car is mainly driven by the need to avoid frequent and expensive maintenance (50%) and the presence of significant faults (54%). A further relevant factor is the expectation of particularly advantageous incentives (23%), indicating an attitude – although present only in less than a quarter of the total sample – close to the expectations of more sustainable mobility. 56% of those interviewed who have planned to replace their vehicle believe they will have to postpone the decision, mainly for economic reasons (34%) and market-related uncertainties (32%). Only 7% plan to change cars in 2024, while 25% tend to postpone the decision for as long as possible. This is the most significant “snapshot” of a sector – the automotive one – still strongly compromised by the sense of uncertainty that affects its stability and growth.
Purchasing preferences and budget
In the case of an imminent purchase, 73% of respondents would consider a new car, while 59% would consider a used car. The budgets allocated to a new car vary: 28% plan to spend between 10 thousand and 15 thousand euros, while 24% estimate spending between 15 thousand and 20 thousand euros. The most important factors when choosing a car include low fuel consumption (64%), roadworthiness for the next few years (47%) and robustness with low maintenance requirements (45%). Security (37%) and convenient purchasing options (33%) are other key elements.
