Brazil February 2016: Onix leads, HR-V and Toro take off

The futuristic Fiat Toro is already the #6 pickup in Brazil. 

* See the Top 20 best-selling brands and Top 140 models by clicking on the title *

After losing a devastating 39% in January, Brazilian new car sales slow down their alarming freefall in February at a still very significant -21% to 142.068 registrations, pulling the year-to-date total down 31% to 291.748 units. As it has been the case for a couple of years now, the Big 3 local manufacturers fall even faster than the market: Chevrolet cements its newfound leadership despite sales down 23% to 21.723, above Fiat (-40%) and Volkswagen (-36%). Reversely, Hyundai (+6%), Toyota (+9%) and Nissan (+8%) astonishingly manage to go against the grain, posting year-on-year gains, but none more so than Jeep, up 17-fold on February 2015 to #10 overall with 4.050 sales thanks to the kickstart of the Renegade’s local production.

The Honda HR-V hits a record 6th place overall in February.

Model-wise, the Chevrolet Onix confirms it is now the uncontested leader of the Brazilian market, surging by an incredible 49% on a year ago to 10.326 sales and 7.3% share, distancing the Hyundai HB20 (+20%), Ford Ka (-14%) and Fiat Palio (-40%). The next two nameplates hit their best-ever monthly ranking in Brazil: the Toyota Corolla is up 14% to #5 with 4.997 sales while the Honda HR-V reclaims the title of #1 SUV in the country off the Jeep Renegade thanks to 4.711 deliveries in 6th position overall. The Hyundai HB20S (+9%), Toyota Etios Hatch (+23%), Hilux (+8%), Etios Sedan (+8%) and Renault Clio (+26%) are the only other nameplates posting year-on-year gains inside the Top 30.

Fiat Toro. Picture courtesy primeiramarcha.com.br 

Further down, we witness the birth of a new blockbuster pickup truck: the futuristic-looking Fiat Toro, built on a Jeep Renegade platform. Up to #38 with 1.117 sales in February, it already commands a three month-long waiting list and ranks #6 pickup in the nation for its first full month of sales. Still leader with 4.590 sales, the smaller Palio-based Fiat Strada suffers (-47%) as does the Gol-based VW Saveiro down 37% to 2.927 deliveries. The Toyota Hilux (2.249) is up 8% while the Ford Ranger (1.218) and Chevrolet S10 (1.179) fall at -18% and -53% respectively, already in the Toro’s line of fire, itself above the VW Amarok (948) and Renault Oroch (821). The next few months will tell whether the Toro can co-exist at high sales levels along the Strada or whether some cannibalisation will occur.

Previous month: Brazil January 2016: Jeep Renegade in Top 5, market down 39%

One year ago: Brazil February 2015: VW Up in Top 10, threatens Golf

Full February 2016 Top 20 brands and Top 140 models below.