Chile August 2018: Kia leads, VW and Peugeot up in record market

Volkswagen sales surge 43% year-on-year in August in Chile.

* Now updated with the Top 50 best-selling brands and Top 20 models – click on title to see *

The July 2018 post has now been updated with the Top 25 models

New car sales in Chile post an incredible 28th consecutive month of year-on-year gains in August at +9.8% to 38.729 registrations, smashing the August record established just last year. Strikingly, this is however the lowest gain of any month in 2018, a year that sees its volume climb 20.4% to an all-time high 272.144 units. Kia (+11%) is the best-selling carmaker in the country for the first time in over two years (since July 2016), 65 sales above Suzuki (+11%) and 67 above Chevrolet (+1%) remaining #1 YTD. Nissan (-2%) and Hyundai (-17%) are in difficulty whereas Volkswagen (+43%), Peugeot (+21%) and Mazda (+12%) all beat the market to post double-digit gains. Further down, the most impressive gainers include Opel (+3800%), Maxus (+137%), Changan (+121%), MG (+88%), Foton (+77%), Land Rover (+65%), the Chrysler Group (+64%), Brilliance (+52%), Lifan (+37%), Mitsubishi (+37%), JAC (+35%), Dongfeng (+34%), Chery (+31%), Subaru (+30%) and Citroen (+28%), a list once again dominated by Chinese carmakers up 37% as a whole. Model-wise, the Kia Rio overtakes the Chevrolet Sail to snap the top spot with the Suzuki Swift (+7) and Kia Morning making the Top Four 100% passenger cars. The Hyundai Accent is up 6 ranks on July to #6, the Hyundai Grand i10 up 7 to #11, the Mazda CX-5 up 10 to #14 and the Chery Tiggo 2 knocks on the Top 20’s door again.

Previous month: Chile July 2018: Chevrolet back in charge, Chinese up 50%

One year ago: Chile August 2017: Nissan #1 again, Chinese up 82% in market up 44%

Full August 2018 Top 50 brands and Top 20 models below.