Brazil September 2017: Kwid surges to #2 overall, lifts Renault to 10.6% share

The Renault Kwid is only outsold by the Chevrolet Onix this month in Brazil.

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

The Brazilian new car market has turned the corner in spectacular fashion, with September sales shooting up 24.9% year-on-year to 193.580 after lifting 17.8% in August. The year-to-date tally is now up 7.9% or 115.000 units to 1.573.562. The September surge is the largest since the 29% increase of April 2013. Brand leader Chevrolet exactly follows the market at +25% to 18.2% share but Fiat trails it at +15% to 13%. Volkswagen compensates for a September 2016 score plagued by a supplier crisis and gains 97% to 12% share, still below the 12.5% it commands year-to-date. The most spectacular performer in Brazil this month is French manufacturer Renault up a fantastic 69% to 10.6% share, up almost 3 full percentage points on August and to BSCB’s knowledge the carmaker’s first ever month above 10% share in Brazil, smashing its previous record of 8.5% established in December 2014. The reason behind this sudden surge is a model that has already proven a hit in India: the Kwid.

In what is surely one of the biggest surprises of 2017, the Kwid soars 259% and 25 spots on its August score to land directly in 2nd place for its fourth appearance in the Brazilian sales charts. At 10.358 sales, it hits a similar monthly volume as the ones delivered in India a few months back, but is markedly above its Indian performance in terms of overall ranking. In the remainder of the Renault lineup, the Sandero (-21%), Duster (-48%) and Oroch (-66%) are hit hard but the Logan (+28%) isn’t, on the contrary. The Kwid has already overtaken the Fiat Argo, launched on the same month, with a total volume to-date of 13.603 vs. 13.163, and is shaping up to be a truly global success for Renault.

Back to the brands ranking: among the rest of the Top 20, only Peugeot (+28%), Jeep (+57%) and Mercedes (+88%) outpace the market this month while Chery becomes the best-selling Chinese carmaker in the country year-to-date, overtaking JAC. Over in the models charts, the Chevrolet Onix continues to gallop well ahead of the market with a 37% imp[rovemnet in September, while below the newcomer the Kwid, the Ford Ka (+32%) passes the Hyundai HB20, down a rare 15%. The Chevrolet Prisma (+15%) trails the market while the Toyota Corolla (+26%) matches it and the VW Gol (+176%) and Fox (+96%) catch up for lost time a year ago. The Jeep Compass is back inside the Top 10, the Fiat Argo is up 6 spots to a record #11 while the Fiat Mobi goes from #8 in August to #16 this month, potentially already affected by the Kwid.

Previous month: Brazil August 2017: Chevrolet Onix and Renault Kwid shine, market up 17.8%

One year ago: Brazil September 2016: Supplier crisis sinks Volkswagen down 56% to #7

Full September 2017 Top 20 brands and Top 140 models below.