Mexico January 2017: Nissan Versa and Pickup top market up just 3%

The Nissan Pickup ranks #2 in Mexico in January. 

* See the Top 40 All-brands and Top 225 All-models by clicking on the title *

Donald Trump’s talk of taxing all Mexican imports into the U.S. has the potential to seriously damage the Mexican automotive industry, and by ricochet local sales, if ever implemented. If Mexican sales remain in positive in January, the pace of growth has seriously dampened, to a level not seen in years. At +3% to 123.269 registrations – a new record for the month, this is Mexico’s 33rd consecutive month of year-on-year gains, the 25th monthly record in a row and 18th straight month above 100.000 units, but also the first single digit year-on-year gain since August 2015 and the smallest increase since June 2014… The Top 4 best-selling carmakers even go into reverse mode with Nissan down 6% to 23.4% share, Chevrolet down 1% to 14.4%, Volkswagen also down 1% to 12.6% and Honda down 2% to 6.9%.

Kia hits a record 4.7% market share this month in Mexico. 

In fact, Toyota and Ford (both up 5%) are the only brands in the Top 6 to gain ground on January 2016. How come the overall Mexican market ended up in positive I hear you ask? Simple: a healthy amount of smaller brands post giant gains, starting with Kia up 86% to 5.780 units for an all-time record 4.7% market share and a best-ever 7th place, also hit last September and October. In order, Dodge (+49%), Hyundai (+32%), Renault (+32%), Seat (+16%), Suzuki (+17%), Mercedes (+39%), BMW (+20%) and Fiat (+51%) all shoot up this month whereas Mazda (-18%), Buick (-30%), GMC (-33%), Jeep (-43%), Subaru (-43%) and Land Rover (-82%) all struggle.

The Suzuki Ignis has landed in Mexico. 

Model-wise, the Nissan Versa reclaims the top spot it held over the FY2016 and Nissan manages a 1-2 with the Pickup (+29%) in 2nd place. The Chevrolet Aveo (+24%) is back down to #3, distancing the VW Vento (+18%), Chevrolet Spark (+21%), Nissan March (+6%) and VW Jetta (+4%). The discontinued Nissan Tsuru (-42%) begins its slow slide to the bottom, while the Ford Figo (+108%) breaks into the Mexican Top 10 for the very first time. Notice also the Honda HR-V up to #14, the Kia Forte up to #20, Honda Civic up to #21, Kia Rio up to #26 and Hyundai Creta up to #36. This month we welcome the Suzuki Ignis at #132.

Previous post: Mexico Full Year 2016: Record market pounces up 18.6% above 1.6m

One year ago: Mexico January 2016: Nissan Versa #1, Kia > Hyundai in market up 15%

Full January 2017 Top 40 All-brands and Top 225 All-models below.