Chile September 2020: Suzuki Baleno (+65.7%), MG ZS (+86.1%) help slow market fall to -15.9%

The Suzuki Baleno repeats at #1 in Chile.

New vehicle sales in Chile drastically reduce their fall from -42.4% in August to -15.9% in September, with the 31.897 units sold this month representing the largest volume since pre-pandemic January (32.104). According to local manufacturers association ANAC, commercial vehicles continue to record the smallest drop both in September (-11.2%) and YTD (-24.3%), illustrating their importance in the participation of essential activities during the pandemic and, in general, for the national economy.  The markedly better September result coincide with the end of lockdown in selected communes due to the implementation of the Step by Step program, added to the availability of 2021 models from September onwards. The year-to-date tally is now down -43% to 165.144.

In the brands ranking Suzuki (+27.3%) completely bucks the negative trend and manages the only year-on-year gain in the Top 5, leaping up two spots on August to snap the pole position as a result. Leader in August and YTD, Chevrolet (-16.1%) is knocked down to #2 while Hyundai (-26.8%) is up two to #3, Kia (-4.6%) remains at #4 and Nissan (-12.6%) is down three to #5. Chinese MG (+45.6%) scores the largest gain in the Top 25 and slices its August ranking in two to reach #6 with 1.769 and 5.5% share, all new records. No other carmaker manages an uptick in the remainder of the Top 12, with Fuso (+400%), BAIC (+80.6%), Brilliance (+52.1%), Maxus (+29.8%), Skoda (+27.5%), Opel (+24.8%) and DS (+5.9%) securing the only additional gains in the Top 60.

Over in the models ranking, the Suzuki Baleno (+65.7%) repeats at #1 and wrangle the YTD pole position off the Mitsubishi L200 (-8.5%) as a result while the MG ZS (+86.1%) steps up to #2 with a record 1.048 sales and 3.3% share, remaining #3 YTD. The Toyota Hilux (+7.2%) is up 9 spots on August to #4, the Chevrolet Onix is boosted up to #6 for the month and #20 YTD by the new generation and the Chery Tiggo 2 (+5.6%), Mazda CX-5 (+0.4%) and MG3 (#10) also gain ground year-on-year. There are three additional Chinese nameplates in the September Top 25: the Changan CX70 (#17), JAC S2 (#18) and Maxus T60 (#23).

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

One year ago: Chile September 2019: Hyundai on top, Mitsubishi (+15.2%) strong, MG (+68.8%) up to record #12

Full September 2020 Top 60 All-brands ranking and Top 25 models below.