Chile August 2021: Chevrolet Groove best-seller for the first time, Chinese up to record 33.5% share

The Chevrolet Groove aka Baojun 510 is the best-selling vehicle in Chile in August.

August new car sales in Chile soar 97.3% year-on-year and 13.6% on August 2019 to 37.564 units. The year-to-date tally is now up 91.1% on 2020 to 254.646, also tilting into positive vs. the same period in 2019 at +1.2%. Chevrolet (+110.2%) easily wins the brands race with 10.6% share, in line with its year-to-date level. Chery (+903.1%) is up 10-fold year-on-year to repeat at a record 2nd place with 7.6% share and climbs to #4 year-to-date with 5.9% of the market. Nissan (+52.2%) is weak and rounds out the podium ahead of Hyundai (+112.8%). Changan (+356.4%) surges 6 spots on July to break into the Chilean Top 5 for the first time at #4 with 6.2% share, double its YTD level. MG (+262.3%) is also up 6 ranks to #6, distancing Toyota (+230.1%). Kia (+22.6%), Volkswagen (+142.8%) and Suzuki (+3.6%). All-in-all, Chinese brands smash their share record this month at 33.5% thanks to 12.596 sales (+279.6%) vs. 26.4% so far this year (+173%).

Over in the models ranking, China-made SUVs monopolise the podium, including the only two nameplates selling over 1.000 units this month. The Chevrolet Groove, which is a rebadged Baojun 510, shoots up to its first ever pole position with just under 2.000 sales and 5.2% share. It easily distances the Chery Tiggo 2 (+837.6%) at 3.5% of the market and stepping up to #1 year-to-date in the process. The Tiggo 2 topples the MG ZS (+131.5%) rallying back up 15 spots on last month to #3. Leader in July, the Chevrolet Sail (+220%) falls to #4 but sarges year-on-year as is the case for the Nissan Navara (+199.2%) and Toyota Hilux (+185.9%) below. The Chery Tiggo 3 dips down one rank to #7 ahead of the Kia Morning (+156.6%), Nissan Kicks (+76.3%) and Suzuki S-Presso making it six SUVs in the Top 10.

Previous month: Chile July 2021: Chery up to #2 brand in market up 21.5% on pre-pandemic

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

Full August 2021 Top 60 All-brands and Top 20 models below.