Brazil February 2021: Fiat (+26.2%) hits highest share in 6.5 years, ignores market down -17.8%

Fiat Strada sales are up 80.6% year-on-year in February.

New light vehicle sales in Brazil drop -17.8% year-on-year in February to 158.237 units, leading to a year-to-date tally off -14.8% to 320.793. Fiat (+26.2%) continues to be completely oblivious to the market decline and simply scores the largest and only double-digit gain in the Top 20 to reach 21.2% share. This is Fiat’s highest share since August 2014 (21.7%) after falling to 11.4% three years ago in February 2018. Volkswagen (-15.3%) advances to 2nd place whereas Chevrolet (-26.9%) continues to sink and now drops to #3 YTD after ranking #1 over the Full Year 2020.

Jeep (+3.8%) scores the only additional gain in the Top 10 but drops one rank on its all-time record #5 hit last month. Hyundai (-6.8%) and Honda (-16.1%) manage to keep their loss below the market rate but Ford (-75.2%) implodes after announcing it will close its Brazilian factories and Nissan (-31.5%), Toyota (-30.5%) and Renault (-26.6%) also lose share. Outside the Top 10, Mitsubishi (+2.4%) is up while Land Rover (-5.2%), Peugeot (-7.1%) and BMW (-8.1%) resist.

Model-wise, the Chevrolet Onix (-41.9%) retains its throne despite freefalling, whereas the Fiat Strada (+80.6%) continues to ride the wave of the new model. Below the Hyundai HB20 (-8.2%) and Chevrolet Onix Plus (-28.7%), Fiat manages to place three models in the Top 6 with the Argo (+5.1%) and Mobi (+28.6%) both in positive. It also has four nameplates in the Top 10 with the Toro (+25.7%) scoring yet another very positive result. The Jeep Renegade (+9%) and VW T-Cross (+2.8%) are also up in the remainder of the Top 10. Just outside, the Chevrolet Tracker (+277.1%) continues to evolve way above the previous generation a year ago.

Previous month: Brazil January 2021: Fiat (+19.3%) leads, Jeep (+39.9%) scores first Top 5 finish, market down -11.7%

One year ago: Brazil February 2020: Chery (+46.6%) hits Chinese record ranking at #11 in market back up 4.6%

Full February 2021 Top 20 brands and Top 140 models below.