Mexico March 2017: Chevy Spark, Nissan Pickup top market up 17%

First monthly win for the Chevrolet Spark in Mexico.

* See the Top 40 All-brands and Top 215 models by clicking on the title *

After two months of single-digit gains (+3% in January and +6.5% in February), a feat that had not occurred in almost three years, in March the Mexican new car market returns to the pace it got us used to in the past couple of years at +17.2% to 137.021 units. This lifts the year-to-date tally up 8.9% to a record 378.275. As it has now become the routine, March establishes a new record for the month, this is the 35th consecutive month of year-on-year gains and the 27th monthly record in a row. Brand-wise, Nissan outpaces the market at +20% ahead of Chevrolet (+15%) and Volkswagen (+6%) both trailing market growth. Toyota (+23%) Honda (+19%) and Hyundai (+29%) also shine inside the Top 10 but once again it’s Kia that makes itself noticed with a 101% year-on-year gain to 7th overall. Further down the ranking, notice Alfa Romeo (+96%), Mercedes (+75%), Acura (+61%), Fiat (+56%), Isuzu (+48%) and BMW (+39%) all posting spectacular gains.

The locally-produced Kia Rio is getting closer to a Top 10 ranking in Mexico this month.

The models ranking gets a reshuffle this month: for the first time in Mexican history the Chevrolet Spark is the best-seller in the country thanks to deliveries up 51% to 7.647, edging past the Nissan Pickup at 7.630 (+48%) and the Nissan Versa – the year-to-date leader – up just 5% to 7.571. In fact, the majority of the Top 10 best-sellers frankly outpace the market this month with the Chevrolet Aveo up 63%, the VW Vento up 27%, the Nissan March up 44%, the Nissan Sentra up 51% and the Honda CR-V up 136%. Only the VW Jetta (-10%) and Nissan Tsuru (-17%) underperform. Outside the Top 10, the Nissan Kicks is up 8 spots on last month to break its ranking record at #12, the Kia Rio is up 12 ranks on February and 170% year-on-year to #14, becoming the brand’s best-seller in Mexico thanks to the recent kickstart of local output representing 61% of its total sales for the month.

Previous month: Mexico February 2017: Kia breaks into Top 5, market up 6.5%

One year ago: Mexico April 2016: Kia impresses in 16th consecutive record month

Full March 2017 Top 40 All-brands and Top 215 models below.