Brazil October 2020: Fiat (+11.3%), Strada (+44.7%) confirm momentum in market down -14.9%

The Fiat Strada is up 44.7% year-on-year in Brazil. Pic by Fernando Pires / www.flpires.com.br

The Brazilian new light vehicle market drops -14.9% year-on-year in October to 205.244 units, surpassing 200.000 monthly sales for the first time in 2020. This YoY drop, on paper worse than September (-10.9%) is actually due to a lesser number of opening days vs. October 2019 at 21 vs. 23. When looking at daily sales, the market is down just 7% year-on-year to 9.766 vehicles sold a day. The year-to-date tally is now off -30.9% to 1.503.845. Our 2020 forecast is almost unchanged from 1.93 million (-27%) last month to 1.92 million (-28%) now.

Fiat (+11.3%) once again is the hero of the month in the brands ranking, repeating as the best-selling brand after a 5-year drought and posting the only year-on-year gain in the Top 11 and the largest in the Top 15. Volkswagen (-9.2%) resists better than the market to cement its newly acquired YTD top spot above Chevrolet (-21.3%) in difficulty. Jeep (-1.7%), Hyundai (-3.3%) and Honda (-12.1%) also score slimmer drops in the remainder of the Top 10. Below, Iveco (+42.7%), Volvo (+29.1%), Mitsubishi (+10.4%) and Audi (+7.9%) stand out with year-on-year gains.

Model-wise, a struggling Chevrolet Onix (-42.4%) reclaims the top spot but is the only Top 5 vehicle in negative. The Fiat Strada (+44.7%) continues to be lifted by the new generation as it distances the Hyundai HB20 (+6.9%), Chevrolet Onix Plus (+20.7%) and VW Gol (+29%). The Chevrolet Tracker (+507.3%) is also boosted by a completely new model while the Jeep Compass (+7.6%) is the last Top 10 model in positive. Further down, notice the Fiat Uno (+135.2%), Fiorino (+86%) and Renault Duster (+18.6%), the VW Nivus is down one spot on September to #23 but still leads new launches above the Nissan V-Drive (#54) and a newcomer, the Ford Territory (#71) imported from China.

Previous month: Brazil October 2019: Jeep, Chery impress, Chevy Onix Plus lands at #6 in market down -1.4%

One year ago: Brazil September 2020: Fiat (+30.2%), Strada (+80.6%) score first wins in 5 years in bettering market (-10.9%)

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