Brazil March 2018: Chevrolet struggles, VW, Renault and Nissan up

The new Virtus helps Volkswagen up 23% in Brazil in March.

* See the Top 20 best-selling brands and Top 150 models by clicking on the title *

New car sales in Brazil are approaching a full year of growth with March the 11th consecutive month of year-on-year gains at +8.9% to 200.101 units, leading to a year-to-date tally up 14.7% to 537.312 registrations. However things are not going according to plan for market leader Chevrolet, enduring its first year-on-year decline since December 2016 at -1% to 15.3% share. In contrast, Volkswagen soars 23% to 14.4%, far above Fiat also down at -2% to 11.7%. Ford (+16%), Renault (+27%), Honda (+13%), Nissan (+27%) and Jeep (+17%) all outpace the market inside the Top 10 while Toyota (-1%) and Hyundai (-6%) lose ground. Further down, Volvo (+74%), Kia (+71%), JAC (+49%) – the only Chinese carmaker in the Brazilian Top 20 this month – Land Rover (+36%) and Mitsubishi (+26%) all post spectacular gains in the Top 20.

The Nissan Kicks posts its first Top 10 ranking in Brazil.

Atop the models ranking, the Chevrolet Onix endures its second year-on-year decline in the past four months but its first double-digit drop in over two years at -12% (previous was -16% in December 2015). It however remains comfortably in the lead at 6.5% share and 7.9% so far in 2018 (+3%). The Ford Ka gains 22% to take the 2nd spot off the Hyundai HB20 (-13%) both in March and YTD. The Chevrolet Prisma counteracts its hatchback variant’s decline with a vigorous 16% uplift to #4, its highest ever ranking also reached in January 2016, September 2016 and August 2017. The Renault Kwid is stuck at a majestic 5th place, overtaking the VW Polo down two spots on last month to #6 but still #4 YTD.

The JAC T40 is the best-selling vehicle in Brazil for the first time in March.

The Fiat Strada is up 22% to top commercial vehicles while the Nissan Kicks surges 58% to break into the Brazilian Top 10 for the very first time at #9, almost two years after its launch (July 2016). Further down, the Honda HR-V is up 24% to #11, reclaiming the title of #1 SUV in Brazil off the Jeep Compass itself up 17% to #12 and the Jeep Renegade is up 21% year-on-year and 9 spots on last month to #15. Among recent launches (<12 months), the Fiat Argo is down one rank on February to #12, the VW Virtus is up 10 to #24, the Fiat Cronos is up 87 to break into the Brazilian Top 50 for the first time at #36 and the Honda WR-V is down 6 to #47. The JAC T40 ranks at #81 and snaps the best-selling Chinese nameplate title off the Chery QQ at #84 and the Lifan X60 at #99.

Previous month: Brazil February 2018: Chevrolet & Volkswagen strong, Kwid up to #5

One year ago: Brazil March 2017: First year-on-year gain in over 2 years at +6.1%

Full March 2018 Top 20 brands and Top 150 models below.