Cars cost less on paper, but buyers are still spending more

The car market is showing a paradox: list prices for many models are falling, but the average amount paid by customers keeps rising. The reason is not under the hood, but in the final build of the car, which is increasingly loaded with accessories, digital services and technology packs.

For Italian drivers, the picture is clear: today the base car costs less, but much more is paid for safety, infotainment, driver-assistance systems and more complex purchase formulas. In the end, the bill goes up even when the sticker says otherwise.