Mexico January 2018: Kia hits record share, Chevy sinks 53% in market down 11.4%

Kia sales in Mexico are up 37% to reach a record 7.3% market share.

* See the Top 40 All-brands and Top 210 models by clicking on the title *

The Mexican new car market continues to contract in this start of 2018 with January sales down 11.4% year-on-year, marking an 8th consecutive month of decline and 2nd consecutive double-digit drop after losing 17.5% in December. Nissan loses less ground than the market at -8%, resulting in a market share improved to 24.2%, almost double the #2 Volkswagen down 15%. Toyota goes against the grain with a fantastic 15% surge to 8.5% share, followed by Honda (-2%) while for Chevrolet it’s a month to forget with deliveries down an abysmal 53% on January 2017 to a paltry 7.7% share vs. 16.1% over the Full Year 2017. Kia continues to impress with a 37% year-on-year gain leading to a new record share at 7.3%, smashing its previous best of 6.4% established last September. Sister brand Hyundai also shines with a 17% uplift while Mazda improves its share to 4.3% thanks to deliveries down just 1%. Outside the Top 10, Jaguar (+500%), Land Rover (+265%), Lamborghini (+50%), Suzuki (+36%), BMW (+35%), Jeep (+30%), Isuzu (+29%), Peugeot (+18%), Volvo (+15%), Ferrari (+14%), Audi (+8%), Mini (+8%), Porsche (+8%), Buick (+3%) and Lincoln (+3%) all defy the surrounding gloom to post positive results.

The Toyota C-HR lands directly inside the Mexican Top 100. 

After being toppled by the Chevrolet Beat in December, the Nissan Versa – the best-selling vehicle in Mexico for the past two consecutive years – reclaims its throne with sales actually up 16% to 7% share, with the Japanese carmaker placing four nameplates in the Top 5 this month: the Pickup (-7%) at #2, the March (-3%) at #4 and the Sentra (-10%) at #5. The odd one out is the VW Vento (-7%) rounding up the podium. Below the Chevrolet Aveo down 52% to #6, the Kia Rio shoots up 132% year-on-year to land at a record 7th place, beating its previous best of #8 established last September. The Honda CR-V (+116%) also impresses at #9 while the Chevrolet Beat drops 9 spots on December to #10 but remains by far the best-selling recent launch (<12 months) above the Hyundai Accent (#28), Renault Captur (#65) and Chevrolet Cavalier (#67). This month we welcome the Toyota C-HR at #97 and the Peugeot 5008 at #160.

Previous post: Mexico Full Year 2017: Kia and Hyundai break records, Nissan Versa #1

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

Full January 2018 Top 40 All-brands and Top 210 models below.