Chile August 2020: Suzuki Baleno scores second win this year in market down -42.4%

The Suzuki Baleno is the best-selling vehicle in Chile in August.

After averaging -70% over the past three months, the Chilean new vehicle market seems to have bottomed out in August with sales down a slightly less intimidating -42.4% year-on-year to 19.037 units. This leads to a year-to-date tally down -47% to 133.247. This better score is linked to the progressive easing of lockdown in some cities following the implementation of the Government’s Step by Step program in late July. According to local manufacturers association ANAC, other factors helping recovery are aggressive promotions and new emphasis on e-commerce by manufacturers as well as the government allowing early super withdrawal that was invested into the acquisition of a new vehicle.

Chevrolet (-38.4%) resists slightly better than the market to hold onto the brands top spot with a round 10% share, distancing Nissan (-36.2%), Suzuki (-40%) and Kia (-43.9%). Peugeot (-31.2%), Volkswagen (-33.7%) and Ford (-36.2%) post the best holds in the remainder of the Top 10 but Hyundai (-55.7%) and Mazda (-52%) implode. Below, DS (+400%), Audi (+18.7%) and Brilliance (+13.9%) post the only year-on-year gains in the Top 50 while BAIC (-12.3%), Maxus (-14.9%) and MG (-17.8%) contain their loss.

Model-wise, the Suzuki Baleno (-31.9%) leaps up two spots on July to score its second win of the year after January while the Nissan Versa (+2.5%) is up four ranks to #2. Both models topple the Mitsubishi L200 (-17.8%( which however remains the YTD leader. The MG ZS (+8.3%) soars 5 spots to #4 and advances to a fantastic third place YTD, while the Kia Rio (-60.7%) rounds out the Top 5 despite a ghastly year-on-year loss. The Peugeot Partner (+115.1%) and Ford F-150 (+90.1%) score surreal gains in the remainder of the Top 10.

Previous month: Chile July 2020: Market stuck at -63.6% despite improving sanitary situation

One year ago: Chile August 2019: Chevrolet holds onto #1 in market back down -14.6%

Full August 2020 Top 55 All-brands and Top 25 models below.