Argentina 6 months 2013: Chevrolet Classic under siege

Could the Peugeot 207 Compact dethrone the Chevrolet Classic by the end of the year?

* See the Top 75 best-selling models and Top 40 All-brands by clicking on the title! *

After the USA, China and Spain, we continue on our exploration of the Top 20 biggest car markets’ year-to-date rankings halfway through 2013. Next: Argentina, one of 6 markets in the Top 20 with China, Brazil, Thailand, Indonesia and Australia to lodge all-time record sales over the period. Argentinean new car sales are up up 8% on 2012 to reach 498,620 units, which would prompt one to wonder whether the symbolic million annual registrations could be reached this year. Unfortunately it probably won’t be the case, as car sales in Argentina are traditionally weaker in the second half of the year. If we apply the 8% growth rate to the Full Year 2012 result we come to 908,000 units which would still be a new record.

The Ford Ecosport is up 29% year-on-year to #3.

The Chevrolet Classic, a facelifted 1993 Opel Corsa sedan, has been the most popular vehicle in Argentina for the last 3 years running, and is still the best-seller over the first 6 months of 2013 with 19,870 sales, but it drops 13% year-on-year and loses over one percentage point of market share (from 5.1% last year to 4%). And it’s getting some heat from a couple of models. Firstly the Peugeot 207 Compact (aka 206+): whereas it had only topped the monthly sales charts once before this year (in January 2011), it does it 3 times in the space of 5 months this year! It ranked #1 in January, April and May and totals 19,194 units and 3.8% over 6 months, only 676 sales below the Classic…

The Renault Clio Mio lands directly in 4th position.

But wait there’s more: the Top 5 best-sellers get a big reshuffle over the period. The Ford Ecosport is boosted by the new model and gains 29% year-on-year to reach #3 with 17,026 sales and 3.4%. Launched last December, the Renault Clio Mio (a facelifted 1998 Clio II) lands directly in 4th position at 16,088 units and 3.2% and the Renault Duster is up 10 spots and 68% to #5 with 15,881 sales and 3.2%. Notice also the Toyota Hilux up 33% to #7 and the Ford Fiesta Kinetic exactly doubling its sales year-on-year to gain 16 ranks to #10.

Chery QQ sales are up 36% year-on-year in Argentina.

Outside the Top 10, great performers in Argentina include the Peugeot 308 up 89% to #11, the Fiat Siena up 28% to #12 thanks to the addition of the new gen ‘Gran Siena’, the Ford Ranger up 83% to #16, Fiat Palio up 123% to #18 and VW Bora up 129% to #29. As far as newcomers are concerned, salute the arrival of the Citroen Nuevo C3 at #31, Chevrolet Spin at #36, Chevrolet Cobalt at #52 and Chevrolet Onix at #58. Finally, there are two Chinese inside the Argentinean Top 60 vs. none last year: the Chery QQ up 36% to #53 and the Chery Tiggo up 18% to #57.

Previous post: Argentina June 2013: Ford Ecosport confirms 2nd place

One year ago: Argentina June 2012: Chevrolet Classic on top, market down 19%

Full 6 months 2013 Top 75 models and Top 40 All-brands Ranking Tables below.