Mexico May 2019: Kia breaks share record, Suzuki celebrates 2 years of double-digit gains in market down -10.8%

Suzuki is on an incredible streak of 24 consecutive months of double-digit gains in a market that dropped 23 times in the same period.

The Mexican new light vehicle market is down for the 23rd time in the past 24 months in May at -10.8% to 102.094 units, leading to a year-to-date tally down -5.1% to 532.264. As it has been the case for the most part of the past two years, brand leader Nissan (-20.8%) falls a lot faster than the market but easily remains in the lead at 19.4% share vs. 15.1% for the #2 Chevrolet (-20%). Volkswagen (-3.3%) resists a lot better in third place while Kia (+6%) breaks its all-time market share record at 7.7%, eclipsing the 7.6% it hit just last month and remaining at a record-high 4th place for the 2nd month running.

Kia breaks its market share record in Mexico at 7.7%.

Mazda (+7.6%) posts a 2nd year-on-year gain in a row but it’s Suzuki (+39.8%) that is once again the most dynamic in the Top 10, securing a streak of two full consecutive years – 24 months – of double-digit year-on-year gains, an absolutely astounding performance in the current depressed context. Strangely, double-digit gainers are routine just outside the Top 10 with Mercedes (+48.1%), Mitsubishi (+35.3%), Ram (+22.5%), Renault (+20.9%) and Seat (+11.4%) all in fantastic form in the Top 15 with Chrysler (+83.3%), Land Rover (+34%), Lamborghini (+33.3%), Jaguar (+30.8%), Peugeot (+19.9%), Acura (+19.3%) and Ferrari (+12.5%) shining further down.

The Chevrolet Beat is the best-selling vehicle in Mexico in May.

Model-wise, the Chevrolet Beat (-3.9%) takes the lead thanks to a slim decline, distancing the Nissan Pickup (-15.5%), Chevrolet Aveo (-20.6%) and the YTD leader Nissan Versa (-35.5%) freefalling this month. The VW Vento (+6.8%) is the only Top 6 nameplate to gain ground but right below, the Nissan X-Trail (+59.6%), Mazda3 (+23.8%) and Kia Rio (+14.4%) all post splendid double-digit gains in the remainder of the Top 10. The Ram 1500-3500 (+126.8%), Hyundai Grand i10 (+33.6%), Kia Soul (+20.7%), Forte (+19%) and VW Tiguan (+15.2%) also stand out in the Top 30. The Renault Kwid is up 45 spots on April to lead new launches at #32 ahead of the Suzuki Ertiga (#52) and Kia Sedona (#63). We welcome the Seat Tarraco at #139 and the Lincoln Aviator at #293.

Previous month: Mexico April 2019: Suzuki (+23.2%), Mazda (+2.4%) survive market down -10.2%

One year ago: Mexico May 2018: Toyota, Mazda, Hyundai up in 12th YoY drop in a row

Full May 2019 Top 40 All-brands and Top 295 All-models below.