Brazil in May 2010: Top Selling Cars and Makes

Marcelo de Vasconcellos
by Marcelo de Vasconcellos

As reported earlier, sales in Brazil in May were a mixed bag. Compared to April, sales slid 9.6 percent (from 278,000 vehicles in April, to 251,000 last month). However, on a year to year basis, sales managed an improvement of 1.7 percent over May 2009. The first five months of 2010 are still going at a record-breaking, best-ever pace (according to Brazilian enthusiast site bestcars.com.br). With the end of incentives clearly causing strain, the question is: How long?

Brazil Manufacturers ranked by sales
May 2010RankManufacturerUnits soldMarket Share1Fiat54.95223.3%2Volkswagen54.38423.1%3Chevrolet46.53219.7%4Ford19.9748.5%5Hyundai8.7623.7%6Honda8.4983.6%7Renault8.213.5%8Toyota7.8213.3%9Citroën5.9712.5%10Peugeot5.9572.5%

As to makers, there was as a major shake-up. Hyundai consolidated itself in fifth place. Renault, the traditional 5th place holder in the Brazilian market, saw not only the Koreans slipping by, but were caught with their pants down and also let Honda overtake them . Au revoir Renault?

Brazil Best Selling CarsRankMakeMay SalesApril Sales1VW Gol24,23622,1752Fiat Uno14,16413,0833Chevy Corsa Sedan11,37710,4924VW Fox/CrossFox10,67112,6035Fiat Palio10,44813,3816Chevy Celta9,40411,5457Fiat Strada9,1049,0378Fiat Siena8,44110,8179VW Voyage5,9476,47310VW Saveiro5,6495,13711Ford Ka5,3097,63612Chevy Prisma4,4554,46513Chevy Agile4,4284,08414Ford Fiesta4,4016,94815Toyota Corolla4,3294,79016Chevy S103,5383,20917Renault Sandero3,4065,29218Fiat Punto3,1743,05119Citroën C33,1454,17120Chevy Montana3,1183,372

This time, I included not only the 10 best selling cars, but the 20 best (numbers from well-known car rag Quatro Rodas’ website). And I included their sales in April so that you, the B&B, can get your analyses on. There were some big winners and losers. Notice for example that Ford has exactly zero cars in the top 10. That must have hurt!

Marcelo de Vasconcellos
Marcelo de Vasconcellos

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  • Carlos Villalobos Carlos Villalobos on Jun 13, 2010

    I think the problem Ford has with the Focus is the engine, too old and with it is not enough power. Here it is just one engine variant. In Europe they have what, like 5o 6 different engines? Hyundai offers 3 engines here, 2 gasoline and 1 diesel with different trims. F1? Not relevant to the real world, I prefer Le Mans racing. Go Audi!!!

    • Marcelo de Vasconcellos Marcelo de Vasconcellos on Jun 13, 2010

      I enjoy LeMans, too! The Focus gets here 2 engines. A 2.0 and a 1.6. The 1.6 at least is produced in BRazil and is part Ford's new small engine family called Siygma. Though in Brazil they sell the "basic" version of the engine. They took out all the (expensive0 go gast and save fuel technology like variable valve timing. In the shape it is it produces only 115 hp (if not mistaken). Slightly low for a modern 1.6. Ford says they will eventuall integrate such technologies to the engine overtime. I say the time is now Ford! You're at 8% of the market. How far down do you want to go? Hyundai as far as I know only offers a 1.6. But it's good for about 125hp. Much better than Ford. but it's not a "flex" engine. It takes only gasoline. So, that gives many people pause as it's generally cheaper to run cars on ethanol in Brazil (due to taxes).

  • Carlos Villalobos Carlos Villalobos on Jun 13, 2010

    115 Hp from a 1.6 liter engine? Not enough for a car that should haul a family and their stuff.

  • Ger65691276 I would never buy an electric car never in my lifetime I will gas is my way of going electric is not green email
  • GregLocock Not as my primary vehicle no, although like all the rich people who are currently subsidised by poor people, I'd buy one as a runabout for town.
  • Jalop1991 is this anything like a cheap high end German car?
  • HotRod Not me personally, but yes - lower prices will dramatically increase the EV's appeal.
  • Slavuta "the price isn’t terrible by current EV standards, starting at $47,200"Not terrible for a new Toyota model. But for a Vietnamese no-name, this is terrible.
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