Brazil July 2022: VW Gol #1 for first time since December 2014, market up 4.1%

The VW Gol is the best-seller in Brazil for the first time in 7.5 years.

In July, the Brazilian new light vehicle market posts its first year-on-year gain in over a year (since June 2021) at +4.1% to 169,093 registrations. This means the year-to-date tally is now down -12.7% at 1,020,511 units. Fiat (-18.3%) goes totally in reverse but easily remains at the top of the brands ranking with 21.1% share vs. 14% at home in Italy. Chevrolet (+197.5%) comes off a very low year-ago base and bypasses Volkswagen (+55%) both in outstanding shape. Toyota (-10%) is up one spot to #4 with Hyundai (-5.5%) rounding out the Top 5 but missing out on matching the market. Peugeot (+13.7%) and Nissan (+13.2%) produce the only year-on-year gains in the remainder of the Top 10 just as Honda (-33.9%), Jeep (-24.9%) and Renault (-8.8%) underperform. Below, Mitsubishi (+25.5%) and Porsche (+5.1%) score the only upticks in the rest of Top 25 whereas Volvo (-60.3%), Citroen (-60.2%), Mercedes (-44.4%), Ford (-48.1%) and Chery (-43.8%) hit the hardest.

In the models charts, the VW Gol (+560.7%) posts a spectacular lift due to stock deprived year-ago figures and signs its first monthly win in Brazil since December 2014. As a reminder, the Gol was the best-seller in Brazil for 26 years up until 2013. This month’s performance could be due to the release of significant stock. The Fiat Strada (+15.4%) is toppled from its pedestal after 6 consecutive months at #1. Another model benefitting from artificially low year-ago volumes is the Chevrolet Onix (+537.1%), also up 13 spots on June to #3 overall, distancing the Hyundai HB20 (+4.6%). The Chevrolet Onix Plus (+1050.6%) and Tracker (+2358.2%) also post artificially high year-on-year upticks to rank #5 and #7 respectively. The Fiat Pulse spends a 3rd month inside the Top 10 at #8 while for the Nissan Kicks at #9 it is the first time since March 2018 and the 2nd time overall. Below, the Hyundai Creta (+20.1%) and VW Voyage (+1150.3%) are up.

Previous month: Brazil June 2022: VW Gol teases Fiat Strada for #1 in market off -2.4%

One year ago: Brazil July 2021: Fiat places 4 models in Top 5, Toyota, Jeep and Chery break records

Full July 2022 Top 25 brands and Top 140 models below.