Chile October 2023: Kia (+25.4%), Suzuki (+77.7%) stand out in market slowing down its fall

Kia Soluto sales triple year-on-year in October.

New light vehicle sales in Chile slow down their fall in October at a still searing -12.5% to 25,053 units, the smallest year-on-year drop since last March. The year-to-date volume however is devastated at -28% to just 261,132, a loss of exactly 100,000 sales compared to the first 10 months of 2022. Passenger Cars fare best for once this month at -0.4% to 5,844 with SUVs dropping -11.2% to 11,471, pickups off -23.2% to 5,349 and vans down -17.4% to 2,389.

Toyota (-18.2%) remains the best-selling carmaker in the country despite falling faster than the market to 8.4% share, identical to its YTD level. Kia (+25.4%) ignores the market gloom and gains four spots on September to land at #2. Suzuki (+77.7%) also generates a fantastic lift and repeats at #5 while Ford (+9.2%) is also in positive at #7. Hyundai (-6.4%) limits its fall and Nissan (-12.6%) matches the market but Chevrolet (-43.7%), MG (-39%), Maxus (-31.2%) and Peugeot (-17.9%) all sink. Below, Mazda (+84.2%), Citroen (+55.7%) and Great Wall (+47%) stand out. As a whole Chinese manufacturers hold 28.3% share and see their sales fall -20.2% year-on-year.

Model-wise, the Toyota Hilux (+7.8%) reclaims the top spot it holds year-to-date with a dominant 3.3% share. It distances the Kia Soluto (+194.8%) skyrocketing up 21 spots on last month to #2. Leader in September, the Great Wall Poer (+42.7%) still manages a fantastic third place ahead of the Suzuki Baleno and Chevrolet Groove (-26.1%) aka Baojun 510, still the best-selling SUV in Chile. The Suzuki Swift (+104.8%) is up 21 ranks on September to #7 and the Hyundai Grand i10 (+30.1%) up four to #10.

Previous month: Chile September 2023: Great Wall Poer signs first ever win, sales sink -30.5%

One year ago: Chile October 2022: Peugeot (+74.5%) impresses, Maxus T60 #1, sales down -25.7%

Full October 2023 Top 65 All brands and Top 30 models below.