Chile April 2020: Chevrolet (-64.4%), Chinese (-65.5%) fare better in market down -72.8%

Chevrolet improves to 12.6% of the Chilean market in April.

Most parts of Chile have been under a COVID-19 lockdown since late March, but if new cases slowed down during April, they have flared up again recently, going from 2.738 as of March 31 to 16.023 as of April 30 and 23.048 at the time of writing. This could indicate a lockdown extension well into May and possibly June. For now, new car sales in the country sink -72.8% year-on-year in April to 8.906 units, pulling the year-to-date volume down -33.2% to 85.091.

Chevrolet (-64.4%) resists better than the market, resulting in an improved 12.6% share vs. 10.5% so far in 2019, while Suzuki (-70.3%), Kia (-71.3%) and Hyundai (-75.4%) are closer to the market rate in the remainder of the Top 4. Peugeot (-64.3%) also shows some relative strength just below but Nissan (-80.1%), Mitsubishi (-78.1%) and Toyota (-74.3%) all lose share year-on-year.

Chinese carmaker MG (-36.8%), although down 3 spots on a record 7th place last month, remains inside the Top 10 and posts the best hold in the Top 25. Other great performers further down include Brilliance (+50%) – the only year-on-year gainer in April, Jaguar (-46.2%), Maxus (-54.4%) and Opel (-58.5%). Chinese carmakers as a whole drop “just” -65.5% to improve their market share from 14% in April 2019 to 17.8% this month vs. 19.2% so far in 2020.

Previous month: Chile March 2020: MG (+85.5%) up to record #7 in market down -36.5%

One year ago: China April 2019: JAC (+54%), Changan (+43.1%), Mitsubishi (+22.4%) defy market down -7.8%

Full April 2020 Top 55 brands ranking below.