Puerto Rico (USA) April 2014: Market down 14.5%

Mazda bucks the trend at +64%…

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 188 best-selling models! Thanks Roberto *

In April, only 6,545 new light vehicles were sold in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), down 14.5% on April 2013. It is the sharpest year-on-year decline since BSCB started following Puerto Rico sales monthly (September 2012) and the weakest April result since 2010 (6,174). GUIA President José Ordeix said the local auto industry continues to show a worrisome sustained sales contraction, adding that 2014 could be as low as 2011 when the industry sold 93,687 units. The local auto industry posted a sustained slide in sales in December, January and February before rebounding 6% in March. Bad weather and concerns over the island’s economy were to blame for buyers staying away from auto dealers during the first months of the year. Year-to-date sales as of April amounted to 30,306 units, a 6% decrease on 2013.

…as does Mitsubishi at +57%

Most major automotive brands were hit, including Smart (-40%), Mini (-39%), Mercedes (-26%), Volkswagen (-26%), Ford (-25%), Acura (-24%), Toyota (-21%), Honda (-19%), Lexus (-18%), Nissan (-17%), Land Rover (-17%), Kia (-16%), Audi (-16%), Chrysler (-13%), Hyundai (-12%) and General Motors (-10%). Carmakers bucking the trend were Mazda (+64%) and Mitsubishi (+57%). In the models ranking, the Top 4 best-sellers are identical to the year-to-date ranking with the Toyota Corolla, Yaris, Mitsubishi Mirage and Hyundai Accent leading the way. The Toyota RAV4 is solid at #5, the Mitsubishi Lancer climbs back to #12 vs. #21 year-to-date but #7 in 2013 and the Ford F-Series is up to #14.

Previous post: Puerto Rico (USA) February 2014: Mitsubishi Mirage confirms podium spot

Full April 2014 Top 188 models Ranking Table below.