Argentina January 2014: Ford Ecosport leader for the first time!

Ford Ecosport

* See the Top 204 All-models and Top 34 All-brands by clicking on the title! *

New car sales in Argentina are down 2% year-on-year in January to a still formidable 107,945 registrations, January traditionally being the strongest month of the year in Argentina. It had been creeping up the sales charts ever since it first launched in 2003 and it now gets the coronation it deserves: the Ford Ecosport is the most popular model in Argentina for the very first time this month thanks to a record-breaking 3,902 sales. It is also the first time the Ecosport tops any ranking in the world. It previous best ranking was #2 last May and June but strangely enough but illustrating the increasing fragmentation of the Argentinean new car market, the 3.6% market share it commands this month is not its highest ever, and by far: it reached 4.4% back in December 2010 but at the time it was only good enough for 3rd place.

The VW Amarok reaches a record 9th place this month.

Could the Argentinean models ranking be on the verge of a massive reshuffle? Leader in FY2013, the Chevrolet Classic is down to a horrid #20 this month, while the VW Gol Trend (#2 in FY2013) is down to #4 and the Renault Clio Mio (#3) is down to #10… Another long-term trend we are going to witness in 2014 is a shift towards pick-up trucks as they have become cheaper as a result of a change in taxation for passenger cars starting in 2014 (more on this – in Spanish – here). Illustrating this, the Toyota Hilux jumps up to #2 with 3,501 sales and 3.2% share this month, already ranking and volume records for the nameplate in Argentina and 2nd best-ever share below the 3.5% it hit in April 2012.

Renault Nuevo Logan

Similarly, the locally-produced VW Amarok is up to a record 9th place with 2,598 sales and 2.4% share, beating its previous bests of #10, 2,336 units and 2.3% share reached in January 2011. Other great performers this month in Argentina include the Peugeot 308 amazingly up 10 spots to #3 (this is still the first generation), the Peugeot 208 back up 22 ranks to #6, the Fiat Palio up 13 to #11, Toyota Etios up 12 to a best-ever #14, Renault Nuevo Logan up 18 to #16 and Citroen C4 up 12 to #17 vs. #43 over FY2013. The Chery Tiggo (#60) leads the Chinese attack ahead of the Chery QQ (#70) and Fulwin (#99).

Previous post: Argentina Full Year 2013: Chevrolet Classic #1, Renault Clio Mio #3 in record year

Previous month: Argentina December 2013: Renault Duster #1 in world first, podium 100% Renault

One year ago: Argentina January 2013: Peugeot 207 Compact, Renault Duster & Clio Mio shine

Full January 2014 Top 204 All-models and Top 34 All-brands Ranking Tables below.