Brazil May 2016: Chevrolet Onix superstar in market down 21%

The Chevrolet Onix tightens its grip on the Brazilian market… 

* See the Top 20 brands and Top 130 models by clicking on the title *

Another downward spiralling month for new light vehicle sales in Brazil, down 21% year-on-year in May to 162.170 units, pulling the year-to-date total down an abysmal 26% to 784.813. Thanks to the Onix still galloping ahead in the models charts, Chevrolet gets its head out of the water with sales down just 9% to 27.754, resulting in an improved 17.1% market share. This to be contrasted with a 34% drop at Fiat and 30% drop at Volkswagen. Hyundai (-1%) and Toyota (-2%) both improve their market share leaps and bounds, with Ford falling apart at -40% above Renault and Honda both down slightly slower than the market at -17%. Jeep continues to be the brand success story in Brazil thanks to the locally-produced Renegade with sals up 61% to 4.508 in 9th place, once again joined in the positive ranks by Peugeot (+12%).

…while the Mobi wreaks amok in Fiat’s small hatch lineup… 

As touched on above, the Chevrolet Onix manages the incredible feat of stepping up 33% year-on-year in a market down 21% to hit 10.896 sales and 6.7% share vs. 4% a year ago, with year-to-date volumes now up 21% to 56.969 and its sedan variant the Prisma also gains ground at +3% in 6th place overall.  The Hyundai HB20 is also in positive once again at +5% to 9.247 deliveries, leading to a 2016 tally of 46.389, up 10% on the same period in 2015. The VW Gol posts a second consecutive month on the podium , losing less ground tan the market for once at -13% to 6.914 units and taking advantage of the crumbling down of Fiat’s best-sellers. The arrival of the Mobi, the smallest but not the cheapest Fiat in Brazil, is wreaking amok in Fiat’s lineup, a very similar effect to the one the similarly positioned Up had on Volkswagen sales at launch.

Main Fiat models – Brazil sales May 2016/May 2015:

…and the Fiat Toro gobbles up sales. 

If the Mobi is up a further 17 spots on April to knock at the Top 20’s door (#21 with 2.407 sales), the incremental deliveries it brings are far from compensating the other models’ freefall: the Palio is down 49%, the Siena down 37%, the Uno down 73% and the Punto down 50%. The good news for Fiat comes from the pickup aisle: the tremendously successful Fiat Toro pickup ranks #14 overall and 2nd best-selling pickup in the country this month and when adding sales of the Strada, total Fiat pickup sales are up 6% year-on-year to 7.800 units.

Toyota Etios

Among nameplates managing year-on-year gains in May, let’s point out the Honda HR-V up 3% to #8 overall and best-selling SUV in the country, the Jeep Renegade up 77% to #10, the Toyota Hilux up 27% to #17 thanks to the new generation and the Toyota Etios Sedan up 7% to #19 thanks to a push to taxi companies, the latter two nameplates helping stabilise Toyota sales in Brazil. Further down, the Renault Oroch remains in the Top 40, the Citroen Aircross breaks into the Top 50 for the first time, the BMW X1 is up 18% to #61 and the Mercedes GLE makes its first appearance in the ranking at #113. The Lifan X60 reclaims the title of best-selling Chinese in Brazil at #99 above the Chery Celer at #104 and the JAC T5 at #107.

Previous month: Brazil April 2016: Fiat Toro 2nd best-selling pickup, Mobi in Top 40

One year ago: Brazil May 2015: Ford Ka on podium, Honda HR-V superstar

Full May 2016 Top 20 brands and Top 130 models below.