Brazil February 2023: Market down -2.7%, VW (+41.6%), Nissan (+54.5%) impress, Fiat Strada #1

Nissan Kicks sales are up 214.3% year-on-year in February.

New light vehicle sales in Brazil edge down -2.7% year-on-year in February to 119,775 units, a pretty poor result when taking into account that February 2022 was off -24% on the year prior. Thanks to a strong start of the year in January (+11.9%), the year-to-date volume is in positive at +4.4% and 250,214 sales. The brands podium braves the negative conditions with year-on-year gains: Fiat is up 0.7% to 22.2% share, Chevrolet up 6.6% to 15.5% of the market and Volkswagen surges 41.6% to 13.6%, compensating for a low year-ago result. Toyota (-7.1%) loses share year-on-year while Jeep (+8.3%) overtakes a freefalling Hyundai (-34.8%) to take the 5th spot. Below Renault (-16.4%) also in difficulty, Nissan (+54.5%), Citroen (+4.6%) and Honda (+4.1%) are up. Below, Ram (+1352.2%!), Porsche (+69.2%) and Audi (+40.6%) stand out. BYD appears at #22.

Over in the models aisle, the Fiat Strada (-6.5%) reclaims the top spot it held over the Full Year 2022 off the Chevrolet Onix (-7%). The Chevrolet Onix Plus (+14.2%) is very solid and stays in third place above the Hyundai Creta (+10.6%) and Fiat Argo (+5%) also defying the negative market. All remaining Top 10 nameplates are down year-on-year bar the Chevrolet Tracker (+10.2%) at #10. The VW T-Cross (-16.1%) is hit the hardest above the Renault Kwid (-10.2%), Fiat Mobi (-2.1%) and Jeep Compass (-1.6%). At #11, the VW Polo is up 13 spots on last month and a whopping 1175.3% year-on-year. The Nissan Kicks (+214.3%) also impress at #12 and pulls the brand right up. #2 over the Full Year 2022, the Hyundai HB20 (-51.4%) implodes to #16 for the month.

Previous month: Brazil January 2023: Chevrolet (+73.1%) places three models in Top 4, market up 11.9% 

One year ago: Brazil February 2022: Market slumps -24%, Hyundai and Chery break records

Full February 2023 Top 20 brands and Top 120 models below.