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Brazil January 2017: Modest 4% drop; Chevy Onix, Jeep Compass shine

The Chevrolet Onix outsells the Hyundai HB20 1.89 to 1 in January.

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 20 best-selling brands and Top 150 models – see title *

Has the Brazilian new car market finally bottomed out? After dropping ‘just’ 8% year-on-year in November and 10% in December, registrations are down 4% in January to 143.580 units, with light commercials up for the third month running at +20% to 22.181 and passenger cars down 7.5% to 121.399. The last time Brazilian sales posted a year-on-year gain was over two years ago in December 2014, with the market going down for 36 of the past 40 months. Chevrolet once again impresses with its sturdiness, even recording a 2% year-on-year gain to 27.643 units and a stunning 19.3% share vs. 17.4% over the Full Year 2016. In contrast, Fiat is down 14% to 13.8% and Volkswagen down 13% to 12.6% – both well below their FY2016 levels. Ford gains a spectacular 20% on its January 2016 score to step up two spots on December and its FY16 ranking to #4 overall, distancing Toyota up a healthy 9% and Hyundai down 17%. Renault (+4%), Jeep (+17%), Peugeot (+19%) and Nissan (+29%) are the only other carmakers in the Top 20 to also post year-on-year gains.

Three months after launch, the Compass is Jeep’s best-seller and Brazil’s #2 SUV. 

In the models ranking, the Chevrolet Prisma sails off to unattainable heights, up 7% to 13.900 units and 9.7% share, a full two percentage points above its FY2016 level and almost double the amount of the #2, the Hyundai HB20 down 18% to 5.1%… The Ford Ka surges 63% to cement its third position at 4.9% share, the VW Gol is up 29% on a particularly low base in January 2016, the Fiat Strada reacts up 11% to 5th overall and the Renault Sandero soars 42% to #6. If the Honda HR-V remains the best-selling SUV in the country at #10, it already drops an alarming 24% and is now threatened by the Jeep Compass: for its third month in market the new locally-produced compact U.S. crossover sells 3.093 units for a 14th place overall and overtakes its little brother the Renegade at #18 with 2.731 units. The Fiat Toro celebrates one year of sales with a solid #11 ranking, outselling the Palio for the 2nd time ever after last October with the Fiat Mobi in tow at #13. Another successful newcomer, the Nissan Kicks, maintains itself inside the Top 30 at #29 while we welcome the Hyundai Creta directly at #38 this month.

The Hyundai Creta has landed in Brazil. 

Previous post: Brazil Full Year 2016: Chevrolet takes control in market down 20%

One year ago: Brazil January 2016: Jeep Renegade in Top 5, market down 39%

Full January 2017 Top 20 brands and Top 150 models below.

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