Chile February 2023: Mitsubishi L200 (+113.1%), Toyota Hilux (+96.7%) dominate market off -17.4%

The Mitsubishi L200 sells almost 3 times any other vehicle in the country.

New light vehicle sales in Chile continue to freefall at -17.4% year-on-year in February to 26,220 units, leading to a year-to-date volume down -22% to 53,837. Passenger Cars skid -28.7% to 5,216 and -38.9% year-to-date to 10,976, SUVs fall -25.7% to 10,922 and -20.5% YTD to 23,166, pickups spectacularly swim upstream with a 17.4% year-on-year gain to 6,931 tilting its YTD evolution into positive at +5.2% to 13,798. Finally vans are down -17.9% to 3,151 for the month at -33% YTD to 5,897.

Toyota (+19.4%) defies the negative market to 8.1% share, identical to its YTD level where it gains 14%. Mitsubishi (+91.2%) does even better at #2 with 7.8% of the market. In contrast, Chevrolet (-40.5%) and Peugeot (-20.6%) fare even worse than the market while Hyundai (+0.7%) edges up to round out the Top 5. Kia (+71%) also posts a fantastic uptick but its the only remaining Top 10 brand to outpace the market, with Chery (-55.7%) and MG (-34.8%) hit the hardest. All in all, Chinese manufacturers hold  a 30.2% share with sales off -37.1% on an all-time record 39.6% share a year ago.

Model-wise, the Mitsubishi L200 (+113.1%) tightens its stranglehold on the market with a fantastic 7.1% share, that’s almost 3 times the amount of any other vehicle in the ranking. The Toyota Hilux (+96.7%) is also in outstanding shape at #2 while the Maxus T60 (-23.6%) completes a podium 100% pickups. The Toyota Raize is up a further four spots on last month to #4 just as the Chevrolet Groove (aka Baojun 510) is down two to #5. Notice also the Peugeot Partner (-51.2%) up 20 ranks on January to #8 but freefalling year-on-year. The Ram Van 700 City (+286.5%) surges from outside the January Top 45 directly to #9.

Previous month: Chile January 2023: MG (+64.1%), Toyota (+9.5%) defy market sinking -25.9%

One year ago: Chile February 2022: Chinese hold record 39.6% of market up 29.6%

Full February Top 60 all brands and sales for 80 models below.