Brazil May 2025: Market up 16.4%, VW Polo and Honda HR-V shine

The Honda HR-V hits its highest ranking since February 2017.

213,196 new cars changed hands in Brazil in May, a cool 16.4% year-on-year progression. This brings the year-to-date tally after five months to 927,291 units, up 6% over the same period in 2024. For context, over the first five months of pre-pandemic 2019, the market stood at 1,035,481 units. Fiat (+19.1%) continues to dominate the brands charts with 21.6% share, to be compared with the 8.6% share it holds at home in Italy. Volkswagen (+35.1%) more than doubles the market growth rate to reach 17.4% share vs. 16.1% so far this year, this is the carmaker’s strongest share in over a year: since March 2024 (17.5%). Meanwhile Chevrolet (-16.4%) is in big trouble in thud place and can only muster a weak 10.1% share. Hyundai (+21.6%) is catching up at 8.9% of the market vs. 7.6% YTD. Below a soft Toyota (+4.1%), Renault surges ahead at +49%. BYD (+78.9%) lodges the biggest gain in market and remains at a best-ever 8th place, also reached last month and last December.

Model-wise, the VW Polo (+52.2%) repeats at #1 but remains far off the Fiat Strada (+8%) in the YTD order, with over 5,500 sales separating the two nameplates. The VW T-Cross (+44.7%) exchange positions with the Fiat Argo (+63.2%) to climb onto the third step of the podium, wit the Hyundai HB20 (+29.6%) rounding out the Top 5. The Honda HR-V (+75%) is up to #7, its highest ranking in over six years: since February 2017 (#6). Below, the Renault Kwid (+91.1%), Jeep Compass (+73.3%) and VW Saveiro (+55.6%) make themselves noticed. The Citroen Basalt (#37) tops all recent launches above the BYD King (#54) and GWM Tank 300 (#58).

Previous month: Brazil April 2025: Fiat distant #1, BYD up 20.4% in negative market

One year ago: Brazil May 2024: Hyundai (+42.9%), Nissan (+28.7%), BYD (#10) impress in market up 10.2%

Full May 2025 Top 35 All brands and Top 196 All models below.