Poor sales of the electric car in Italy? The Renault version
Are electric cars selling poorly in Italy compared to major European countries? Here’s how Sébastien Guigues, president of Renault Italia, sees it.
Poor sales of electric cars? “Complexities that shouldn’t be blamed on drivers”
Guigues posted on LinkedIn reflecting on why Italians prefer hybrids by far. Excluding electric vehicles, which account for only 6-8% in Europe where that figure is already around 30%. The French manager explains “how the Italian driver found in hybrids their solution: a real change that fits naturally into everyday life. Our role as manufacturers has been to design technology that handles the complexity without burdening the driver. To offer innovation without asking people to overhaul their habits—this is the most valuable lesson for those thinking about the future of mobility today.” Electric vehicles are too complicated, it seems, though it’s worth wondering why French customers think otherwise.
“Hybrids are the present, providing concrete solutions.”
"The data show how Italians are truly going through this transition, and it explains why we have a ‘two-legged’ strategy. The hybrid model supports the present by helping families and professionals achieve efficiency and turning market complexity into practical solutions. The electric vehicle represents the ultimate goal," continues Guigues. "Part of the challenge is that electric vehicles still require effort from the driver, which is why they account for only a small percentage in Italy—less than one-tenth of the market. We’re well aware of the reasons. There’s the cost of charging at stations, and then there’s home charging, which many families simply don’t have. Additionally, purchasing power makes every decision more cautious. These are systemic factors, and no manufacturer can change them on their own."
Limited sales of electric vehicles, and manufacturers adapting
Guigues’ words convey an important lesson. Automakers have given up on Italians’ low preference for electric vehicles. They decided it’s not worth pushing battery-powered cars here and instead focused all their efforts on hybrids. Stellantis shares the same approach, concentrating all its advertising campaigns on models with dual engines. Electric vehicles, which are the present in other countries, represent a not-so-distant future in Italy. As Guigues reminds us, hybrids accounted for 45.3% of sales in the first eight months of 2026. It’s a shame that most of these are mild hybrids, meaning the electric component plays only a minimal role, making Italy’s transition in terms of emissions a negligible step forward.
But how are Renault’s electric vehicles? VIDEO TEST of the R4
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