Colombia 6 months 2012: Hyundai City and Renault Duster shine

Renault Duster

* See the Top 100 best-selling models by clicking on the title! Many thanks to Juan Felipe *

After a record year in 2011, the Colombian new car market is stable over the first 6 months of 2012 at 150,149 registrations, down 1% on 2011. But beyond this quiet outlook the evolution of the different segments is very uneven: at + 114% year-on-year, commercial vehicles are the sole reason behind the stability of the market, with passenger cars and pick-ups both down 12% and taxis down 9%.

Hyundai City Plus

The Chevrolet Aveo from two generations ago is still the favourite model in Colombia with sales up 4% year-on-year to 9,765 units for a 6.5% market share. It is followed by the Renault Sandero/Stepway at 6,852 sales and 4.6% (-26%) and the Chevrolet Spark GT at 6,420 units and 4.3% (-30%). The only model to progress in the Top 9 reflects a particularity of the Colombian car market where taxis take a significant part of overall sales. The Hyundai City, the taxi version of the Hyundai Santro/i10 is up 4 spots and 30% on last year to #4 with 5,744 sales and 3.8% share, thanks to the arrival of the City Plus aka i10.

Kia Picanto

The best-performing model in the Top 10 is the Kia Picanto, boosted by the new generation of the model, up 91% and 13 ranks to #10 with 3,412 units and 2.3%. The Renault Duster is by very far the best-selling all-new model over the period at #11 with 3,376 sales and 2.2%. A couple of Koreans also deliver brilliant results: the Kia Rio is up 9 spots and 70% to #12 and the Hyundai i25 is up 23 and 187% to #13. The other two all-new models in the Top 50 are the Nissan Versa landing directly at #22 and the Nissan March at #24.

JAC Veloce

Chinese models continue to gain higher market shares in Colombia over the period. Let’s start with the Chevrolet N300, a rebadged Wuling Rongguang, up a fantastic 4132% to land directly at #13 with 2,624 sales and 1.7%. The Chery Van is up 13 spots and 136% to #30 with 1,524 units and 1% while the JAC Veloce (aka J3 Turin in Brazil) becomes the best-selling Chinese passenger car, up 119% and 23 ranks to #48 with 619 sales. There are 8 additional Chinese models in the Top 90, including the Great Wall Wingle at #73 and the Geely CK Taxi at #85.

Previous post: Colombia February 2012: Chevrolet Aveo keeps pole position

Previous year: Colombia Full Year 2011: Old gen Chevrolet Aveo keeps the lead

One year ago: Colombia 6 months 2011: Chevrolet Spark GT threatens Aveo

Full 6 months 2012 Top 100 Ranking Table below.