Uruguay Full Year 2018: Renault Kwid secures first win in the world, market down 19.6%

The Renault Kwid is the best-selling vehicle in Uruguay.

Consult one decade of Uruguay Historical Data here.

This post has now been updated with the Top 13 models.

New light vehicle sales in Uruguay fall a steep 19.6% year-on-year in 2018 to just 43.809 units, the lowest annual score since 2010. Volkswagen (-25.1%) remains the most popular carmaker in the country at 13.7% despite falling even faster than the market, it is followed this year by Renault (+9.6%) up two spots and Fiat (-16.1%) stuck at #3. Suzuki (+1.9%) is up one rank to #4 while Chevrolet (-38.7%) freefalls 3 to #5. Toyota (+35.5%) is by far the best performer in the Top 10 whereas Peugeot (-34%) and Hyundai (-32.1%) are hit hard.

Volkswagen remains the #1 brand in Uruguay in 2018.

Land Rover (+340%), Jaguar (+100%), Kia (+22.5%), JAC (+5.7%), and Subaru (+3.7%) are the only 5 gainers in the rest of the market vs. 33 brands in negative, among them Chery (-70.5%), Geely (-68.9%), FAW (-63.6%), BYD (-55.8%), Ford (-45.2%), Dongfeng (-40.9%), Mini (-38.7%), Changhe (-38.6%), Mazda (-38%) and Chana (-37.5%) in dire straits. All-in-all, Chinese manufacturers are down 45.4% to just 7.3% share vs. 10.7% in 2017 and 23.3% in 2013.

Model-wise, we witness a world first in Uruguay this year: the new Renault Kwid, launched this year, lands directly in pole position to score its first ever annual win in any country in the world. It distances last year’s leader the Chevrolet Onix (-41.6%) while the new Fiat Mobi climbs onto the podium at #3. The Suzuki Nuevo Alto arrives at #8 while the Nissan Kicks (-2.7%) breaks into the Top 10 at #10

Previous month: Uruguay November 2018: Suzuki (+57%) once again ignores surrounding gloom in market down 12.6%

Previous year: Uruguay Full Year 2017: Volkswagen and Chevrolet Onix #1, market up 19.5%

Two years ago: Uruguay Full Year 2016 (models) : Fiat Uno #1, Renault Oroch instant blockbuster

Full Year 2018 Top 48 All-brands, Top 13 models and Top 10 LCV models vs. Full Year 2017 figures below.

Full December 2018 Top 35 All-brands below.