Brazil August 2018: Jeep, Chevrolet Onix break records, Chery up 122%

The Chevrolet Onix crosses the 20.000 monthly unit-milestone for the first time.

* See the Top 20 best-selling brands and Top 155 models by clicking on the title *

Another solid month for new light vehicle sales in Brazil with August marking 16 consecutive months of year-on-year gains and a second straight double-digit uptick at +14.7% to 239.245 registrations, lifting the year-to-date tally up 14.1% to 1.574.966. This is the largest August volume in Brazil since 2014 (259.152) and the highest YTD result after 8 months since 2015 (1.689.074). Brand leader Chevrolet (+9%) trails the market but comfortably remains in pole position with 17.4% share, in 2nd place Fiat (+17%) outsells Volkswagen (+31%) for the first time this year while Ford (+13%) manages to withstand Renault’s aggressive surge (+28%) by just 51 units. Nissan (+35%) scores the largest year-on-year gain in the Top 15 while Jeep (+17%) breaks its all-time volume record at 10.304 sales (previous best 10.003 last May). Chery soars 122% to #17 and 1.054 units, the highest Brazilian ranking for any Chinese brand since January 2015 (itself #17) and highest volume since December 2014 (1.081, also itself). Note Chery still retains the all-time monthly volume record for a Chinese marque in Brazil at 3.281 sales in August 2011, while the Chinese ranking record at #14 is jointly held by 3 brands: Chery (first time in November 2010), Hafei (first in January 2011) and JAC (first in April 2011). Volvo advances to #18, its highest ranking in at least 5 years.

Jeep breaks its all-time volume record for the 2nd time in the past four months.

Over in the models ranking, the Chevrolet Onix (+18%) brilliantly outpaces the market to smash its all-time monthly volume record at 21.763 units, eclipsing the previous best of 18.513 hit a year ago in August 2017. It is the 37th consecutive monthly win for the Onix (no interruption since August 2015 which was the first time it ranked #1) but also one of its most dominant results, selling 2.06 times the #2 ranked nameplate, the Hyundai HB20 at 10.589. Only twice before had the Onix sold more than twice the volume of the #2 – all in the past 10 months: in November 2017 (x2.05 at 18.611 vs. 9.067 for the Ford Ka) and in January 2018 (x2.10 at 16.058 vs. 7.656 for the Ford Ka). The Ford Ka (+33%) itself delivering the largest gain in a Top 5 completed by the VW Gol (-3%) and Polo remaining by far the most successful recent launch.

The new Tiggo 2 lifts Chery to the largest Brazilian volume for any Chinese brand in almost 4 years.

Just below, the Renault Kwid (+117%) confirms it has been an instant blockbuster in Brazil, showing more resilience than in India where it was launched first. The Fiat Toro (+29%) posts its 2nd largest volume ever, the Fiat Argo (+51%) breaks its volume record to 6.166 and the Fiat Strada (+20%) also beats the market despite its age. The Renault Captur (+161%), Chevrolet Tracker (+123%), Renault Duster (+83%), VW Amarok (+46%), Jeep Compass (+38%), Nissan Kicks (+38%), Versa (+34%), Ford Ranger (+29%), Hyundai Creta (+21%) are among the most dynamic in the Top 50. As far as recent launches are concerned (<12 months), below the unattainable VW Polo (#6), the VW Virtus (#17) drops two spots on July, the Toyota Yaris Hatch (#20) is up 7, the Fiat Cronos (#21) down 1 and the Toyota Yaris Sedan (#37) is up 22 to break into the Top 50 for the first time. The Chery Tiggo 2 is up 8 to #60, cementing its newfound status as Chinese best-selling nameplate in Brazil, well above the Chery QQ (#84) and JAC T40 (#87).

Previous month: Brazil July 2018: Ford Ka up, Fiat Toro breaks records, market up 16.6%

One year ago: Brazil August 2017: Chevrolet Onix and Renault Kwid shine, market up 17.8%

Full August 2018 Top 20 brands and Top 155 models below.