Brazil February 2019: Fiat (+65.9%), Chery (+334.4%) headline market up for 22nd straight month at +25.2%

The Fiat Argo breaks its ranking and share records this month in Brazil.

It’s a fantastic month for Brazilian new light vehicle sales up a smashing 25.2% year-on-year to 189.850 units, marking a 22nd straight month of gains and leading to a year-to-date tally up 16.3% to 380.502. Brand leader Chevrolet (+23.6%) almost matches the market to 17.8% share, but Fiat (+65.9%) is catching up spectacularly to 15.1% share vs. 14.4% so far this year, overtaking Volkswagen (+16%) at 13.6%. Renault soars 33.5% to snap the 4th spot for in February and YTD, eclipsing Ford (+12.6%), Hyundai (+5.7%), Toyota (+16.1%) and Honda (+14.3%), all under-performing. Jeep (+51.9%) posts the 2nd largest gain in the Top 10 to hold onto the #9 spot ahead of Nissan (+9.8%). Below, Volvo (+103.9%), Citroen (+90.3%) and BMW (+34.9%) all impress but it’s Chery (+334.4%) that delivers by far the biggest year-on-year improvement among the Top 20 brands, rising to #14 overall, its highest ranking in over 5 years – since October 2013.

The new Tiggo 5X helps lift Chery up 334.4% to its highest Brazilian ranking in over 5 years.

Model-wise, once again the Chevrolet Onix (+43.7%) manages to frankly outpace the market, singing a 43rd consecutive month at #1 (no interruption since August 2015), with 2.28 times the sales of the #2, the Hyundai HB20 (+9.4%) with the Ford Ka (+16.2%) closing the podium. The Fiat Argo soars 88.2% to break its ranking record at #4 (previous best: #6 in June and September 2018) as well as its share record at 3.5% (previous best: 3.1% last September). The Fiat Strada (+58.4%) follows at #5, with the Chevrolet Prisma (+69.2%) in tow while the Jeep Renegade (+113.9%) and Fiat Mobi (+46.8%) also posting spectacular gains in the remainder of the Top 10. In contrast the VW Polo (-2.6%) is the only declining nameplate in the Top 18 and the VW Gol (+1.6%) slips out of the Top 10 at #11. Even though they don’t deserve to be called successes, the Toyota Yaris Hatch (#24) and Sedan (#31) tops recent launches (<12 months) ahead of the Citroen C4 Cactus (#40), Chery Tiggo 2 (#65) and this month’s new launch the Chery Tiggo 5X (#69).

Previous month: Brazil January 2019: Renault (+46.6%), Jeep (+26.1%), Toyota (+15.4%) strong in market up 8.7%

One year ago: Brazil February 2018: Chevrolet and Volkswagen strong, Renault Kwid up to #5

Full February 2019 Top 20 brands and Top 140 models below.