Argentina May 2015: Can the new Sandero save Renault?

The new generation Renault Sandero has just launched in Argentina.

* See the Top 34 All-brands and Top 183 All-models by clicking on the title *

By losing just 7% in March and 4% in April, the Argentinean new car market seemed to be slowly stabilising – granted, at levels roughly 25% below 2014. It’s not. May takes new car sales Argentina down a further 16% year-on-year to 47.261 units and brings the year-to-date total to 254.416 deliveries, down 21.5% on 2014. Volkswagen stuns by improving 11% to 18.5% market share as Ford (-10%) and Chevrolet (-11%) outpace the market but Toyota (-23%), Peugeot (-29%), Fiat (-34%) and most of all Renault (-35%) crumble apart. Interestingly, 9 of the next 10 brands in the sales charts gain ground year-on-year – signalling a clear fragmentation of Argentinean sales – including Audi tripling its score year-on-year, Hyundai (+75%), Kia (+36%), Mercedes, Chery (+16%), Nissan (+14%) and Citroen (+3%).

The Ford Ranger is among the 10 best-selling nameplates in Argentina this month.

This month the new generation Renault Sandero launches in Argentina, landing at #36 with 321 deliveries, and the French manufacturer will be anxiously examining its sales for the remainder of the year. If the outdated Kangoo surges to #7 this month, the Clio Mio is down 10 spots on April to #15 and the Nuevo Logan has failed to transform the nameplate into a hit, ranking at a low #53 so far in 2015. Really what Argentina needs is a sharply priced Renault Captur – even if it cannibalises the Sandero Stepway a little. The VW Gol Trend confirms it is back in charge of the model sales charts with 2.472 units and 5.2%, followed by the Ford Fiesta Kinetic and Fiat Palio. The Ford Ranger is up 8 spots to #9 and the VW Up gains 4 ranks to a best-ever #14 one year after its launch in the country.

Previous month: Argentina April 2015: VW Gol Trend back in charge

One year ago: Argentina May 2014: Fiat Palio leads in market down 39%

Full May 2015 Top 34 All-brands and Top 183 All-models below.