Argentina May 2017: Market up 28%, on track for 2nd best-ever year

The previous generation Chevrolet Onix remains on sale in Argentina as the Onix Joy 

* See the Top 43 All-brands and Top 210 All-models by clicking on the title *

After a soft 6% gain in April, the Argentinean new car market is back to double-digit year-on-year gains for the 4th time this year at a splendid +28% to 75.570 registrations. The year-to-date tally is up an even more impressive 30% to 365.556 units. At this rate, 2017 will be the second biggest year for new car sales in Argentina below the all-time record of 955.023 hit back in 2013. Brand leader Volkswagen follows the market at +29% to 15.9% share, slightly below its YTD level of 16.6%, and the brands ranking is once again exceptionally stable with the Top 11 unchanged on April (and March). Chevrolet (+53%) and Fiat (+40%) beat the market but Ford (+10%), Renault (+12%), Toyota (+12%), Peugeot (+4%) and Citroen (+15%) all underperform. It’s below that we witness extravagant gains: Honda (+188%) and Mercedes (+54%) round up the Top 10 while just outside, Nissan (+93%), Jeep (+120%), BMW (+132%), Hyundai (+365%), Audi (+109%) and Volvo (+100%) all post spectacular improvements. Chinese Lifan (+330%) continues to climb, ranking just outside the Top 20.

The Ford Ka ranks third in May and sixth year-to-date. 

Over in the models ranking, we witness a concentration process towards most popular nameplates, with the top five best-sellers each more than doubling their sales year-on-year, an extremely rare feat. The VW Gol confirms it has reclaimed its hold on the Argentinean market with close to 4.000 sales this month and 16.808 year-to-date (+47%). The Gol led the Argentinean sales charts in 2014 and 2015 before being toppled by the Toyota Hilux last year. The Chevrolet Onix jumps 197% year-on-year and 3 spots on last month to #2, with sales split almost evenly between the previous generation, renamed Joy (1.650), and the current one (1.517). The Ford Ka is up 157% to #3 and now ranks #6 year-to-date, the Renault Sandero is up 118% to #4 and climbs to #2 YTD and the Chevrolet Prisma is up 273% to #5. Market leader at the same time last year, the Toyota Hilux (-18%) is down to #6 this month and #3 year-to-date. Among recent launches, the Fiat Mobi (#14) and Toro (#17) hit record rankings in Argentina (in the case of the Mobi also hit last month), the Peugeot 301 flies off to #60 vs. #154 in April and we welcome the Audi Q2 at #142.

Previous month: Argentina April 2017: VW Gol cements leadership in market up 9%

One year ago: Argentina May 2016: Toyota Hilux takes the YTD lead

Full May 2017 Top 43 All-brands and Top 210 All-models below.