Brazil June 2020: VW signs first win in almost 10 years, T-Cross up to #3 in struggling market (-42.5%)

The VW T-Cross is up to #3 overall in Brazil in June.

As is currently the case in the U.S., the coronavirus pandemic is still roaming free in Brazil with 941.475 additional reported cases (total 1.5 million) and 31.947 additional lives lost (total 61.884) over the past month alone. Even though these are the highest figures of any country in the world, parts of the Brazilian economy have already reopened. As such, new car sales figures are somewhat better than in April (-76.8%) or May (-75.8%) with June volumes down -42.5% year-on-year to 122.772 units, pulling the year-to-date tally down -38.9% to 763.280. We now predict a Brazilian 2020 volume down -30% to 1.86m units which would be the weakest annual result in 14 years: since 2006 (1.830.402).

The Chevrolet Tracker breaks into the Brazilian Top 5 for the first time.

We have a very rare change of guard in the brands ranking: Volkswagen (-33.2%) puts an end to 56 consecutive months of reign by Chevrolet (-45.9%) and snaps its first Brazilian pole position in almost a decade: since January 2011. It’s a convincing victory too: the German carmaker outsells Chevrolet by over 2.000 units and 1.7 percentage point of share at 17.8% vs. 16.1%. Fiat (-46.2%) is bumped down to #3 at 13.6% share while Hyundai (-31.3%), Renault (-54.1%) and Ford (-54.9%) leapfrog past Toyota (-53.8%) back down to the #7 spot it holds YTD. Jeep (-33.2%) and Honda (-37.1%) also outpace the market in the remainder of the Top 10 while Nissan (-48.1%) underperforms. Further down, Land Rover (+43.3%), Audi (+14.3%), BMW (+13.6%) and Mercedes (+12.5%) ignore the surrounding gloom to post spectacular double-digit gains.

The Jeep Renegade ranks #4 in June.

In the models ranking, the Chevrolet Onix (-68%) once again collapses but manages to retain the top spot for the 59th consecutive month (no interruption since August 2015). It is now coping some heat from the redesigned Hyundai HB200 (-28.9%) however, lurking just 442 units or 0.4 percentage point of share below at 4.7% vs. 5.1% compared to 4.3% and 7.9% YTD. The VW T-Cross (+87.2%) almost doubles its volume year-on-year and shoots up 17 spots on May to land on the third step of the podium, single-handedly justifying the brand’s historical pole position and smashing its previous Brazilian ranking record of #8 hit last December. The T-Cross is VW’s best-seller in Brazil for the very first time. The Chevrolet Tracker (+239.3%) is the other outstanding performer this month: it slices its record ranking in two to #5 vs. #10 last April thanks to a completely new generation. It’s a blockbuster month for small SUVs in Brazil: the Hyundai Creta (-29.3%) and Jeep Renegade (-30.8%) also outpace the market at #10 and #4 respectively. The Chevrolet Onix Plus drops another 5 spots on May but remains the most popular recent launch at #12.

Previous month: Brazil May 2020: Worsening health crisis kneecaps market down -75.8%

One year ago: Brazil June 2019: Jeep scores 4th consecutive all-time volume record in market up 9.4%

Full June 2020 Top 30 brands and Top 150 models below.