Brazil March 2017: First Year-on-year gain in over 2 years at +6.1%

The Onix (+21%) helps Chevrolet up 15% in March. Picture uol.com.br 

* See the Top 20 brands and Top 150 models by clicking on the title *

The wait is over: in March, the Brazilian new car market registers its first year-on-year gain since December 2014 at +6.1% to 183.850 units. Thanks to limited losses in January and February, the Q1 tally is only down 1.1% to 459.806 units. This is only the fourth time in the past 40 months that Brazilian sales post a positive result, and the largest year-on-year gain since February 2014 when the market was up 11%. Brand-wise, Chevrolet remains ultra-dominant, beating the market with a 15% gain to 16.9% share and distancing Fiat (-7%) and Volkswagen (+3%) both losing market share year-on-year. Hyundai (+7%) and Ford (+9%) edge past the market while Nissan and Jeep both post a spectacular 73% improvement on March 2016 to rank 9th and 10th respectively. At the other end of the scale, Citroen (-17%), Mitsubishi (-17%), Land Rover (-23%) and Audi (-41%) struggle.

The Jeep Compass breaks its ranking record in Brazil this month at #13 overall. 

In the models ranking, the Chevrolet Onix, illustrating the brand’s strong health, lodges a 21% year–on-year gain to firmly hold onto the pole position with 8% share ahead of the Hyundai HB20 at 5.8% (+2%). These two nameplates are the only ones posting a five-digit volume in Brazil this month. The Ford Ka (+11%), Renault Sandero (+53%) and VW Gol (+19%) round up the Top 5 and all gain market share vs. a year ago. The Strada (-15%) and Toro (+43%) are the only Fiats in the Top 10 just as the Palio (-40%) and Siena (-30%) sink further down in the ranking and the Mobi drops two spots on February to #15.

First Top 20 ranking for the Nissan Kicks in Brazil. 

Inside the Top 10, notice also the VW Voyage up 94% to #9, potentially benefiting from strong rebates in the wake of the soon-to-come arrival of the Virtus sedan. Further down, at #13 the locally-produced Jeep Compass manages to rank #2 SUV in the country below the Honda HR-V (#11) and breaks its ranking and volume records this month. The Compass is above the Renegade for the second time this year after last January. Finally, both the Nissan Kicks (#18) and Hyundai Creta (#19) break into the monthly Top 20 for the very first time.

Previous month: Brazil February 2017: Fiat Toro up to #7 in market down 6.8%

One year ago: Brazil March 2016: Honda HR-V up to #4, Fiat Toro at Toyota Hilux level

Full March 2017 Top 20 brands and Top 150 models below.