In March 2025, light vehicle sales in Brazil surged 4.3% year-on-year to 183,502 units, with cumulative sales for the first quarter up 6.8% to 516,282 units.

● Among brands, Fiat retained its lead with a 21.2% market share, while BYD set a new benchmark, achieving a 29.8% year-on-year growth and capturing 4.4% of the market, underscoring the robust rise of Chinese brands in Brazil.

● In the model segment, Fiat Strada retained its top spot, with Fiat Argo surging to second place, recording a 20.4% increase.

01

Brazil March 2025 Sales Overview, Powertrain Trends, and Brand Performance

● March 2025 witnessed 183,502 new light vehicle sales in Brazil, marking a 4.3% year-on-year increase, maintaining steady growth amidst economic recovery and a resurgence in consumer demand.

● Cumulative sales for the first quarter stood at 516,282 units, a 6.8% year-on-year rise.

● Powertrain Trends

◎ Flexible fuel vehicles (Flex-Fuel) continue to dominate due to their ability to run on both ethanol and gasoline, a feature highly favored by Brazilian consumers. The adoption rate of new energy vehicles (including pure electric and hybrid models) is gradually increasing, particularly fueled by BYD, as acceptance for pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles significantly improves.

◎ Traditional fuel vehicles will remain prevalent in the near term, with hybrid and electric vehicles requiring policy support and infrastructure enhancements for further expansion.

● Brand Sales and Chinese Brand Performance

◎ Fiat: Sold 38,876 units in March, maintaining a 21.2% market share and a 7.0% year-on-year growth, reinforcing its market leadership. Fiat models like Strada and Argo continue to perform strongly.

◎ Volkswagen: Sold 30,418 units, with a 16.6% market share, witnessing a 1.2% year-on-year decline.

◎ Chevrolet: Sold 20,146 units, capturing an 11.0% market share, down 6.1% year-on-year, as declines in models like Onix impacted overall performance.

◎ Toyota: Sold 14,686 units, accounting for an 8.0% market share, with a 1.1% year-on-year decrease.

◎ Hyundai: Sold 12,705 units, achieving a 6.9% market share, up 15.5% year-on-year.

◎ Renault: Sold 11,399 units, holding a 6.2% market share, up 21.4% year-on-year.

◎ Honda: Sold 8,217 units, with a 4.5% market share, up 28.1% year-on-year.

◎ Jeep: Sold 8,172 units, maintaining a 4.5% market share, down 9.3% year-on-year.

◎ BYD: Sold 8,063 units, capturing a 4.4% market share, up 29.8% year-on-year, ranking ninth and setting a new record for market share. BYD swiftly gained market traction with new energy models like Song Pro and Dolphin Mini.

◎ Nissan: Sold 6,874 units, accounting for a 3.7% market share, down 10.0% year-on-year.

● Chinese brands have shone brightly in the Brazilian market, with BYD and Great Wall Motors leading the charge:

◎ BYD: Sold 8,063 units in March, up 29.8% year-on-year, capturing a 4.4% market share. Ranking in the top ten for three consecutive months, BYD's local production and brand promotion in Brazil have laid the groundwork for its rapid ascent.

◎ Great Wall Motors: Sold 1,981 units, up 16.2% year-on-year, with a 1.1% market share. Focusing on SUV models like Haval H6, Great Wall Motors is gradually gaining ground in Brazil with consistent growth.

◎ Chery: Sold 3,872 units, down 19.8% year-on-year, holding a 2.1% market share. While failing to sustain previous high growth, the Tiggo series remains competitive.

◎ Other Chinese brands like JAC sold only 64 units, with a negligible market share. The divergence among Chinese brands in Brazil is evident: leaders are expanding swiftly, while smaller brands still need to strive.

02

Model Sales and Competitive Landscape Analysis

● Model Sales Ranking

◎ Fiat Strada: Sold 10,256 units, capturing a 5.6% market share, up 2.7% year-on-year, continuing to lead the Brazilian market. This light pickup truck appeals to consumers for its practicality and cost-effectiveness.

◎ Fiat Argo: Sold 8,247 units, with a 4.5% market share, up 20.4% year-on-year, surging to second place and achieving its best performance in three and a half years.

◎ Volkswagen Polo: Sold 8,120 units, with a 4.4% market share, down 32.0% year-on-year, slipping to third place, indicating waning competitiveness.

◎ Volkswagen T-Cross: Sold 6,512 units, accounting for a 3.5% market share, up 19.2% year-on-year, maintaining fourth place, with strong demand for compact SUVs.

◎ Hyundai HB20: Sold 6,122 units, with a 3.3% market share, up 15.8% year-on-year, ranking fifth with steady growth.

◎ Toyota Corolla Cross: Sold 5,834 units, capturing a 3.2% market share, up 75.4% year-on-year, surging to sixth place and achieving its best ranking ever.

◎ Chevrolet Onix: Sold 5,748 units, with a 3.1% market share, down 25.9% year-on-year, slipping to seventh place.

◎ Volkswagen Saveiro: Sold 5,692 units, with a 3.1% market share, up 23.6% year-on-year, ranking eighth.

◎ Honda HR-V: Sold 5,095 units, with a 2.8% market share, up 39.4% year-on-year, ranking ninth.

◎ Renault Kwid: Sold 4,955 units, with a 2.7% market share, up 24.1% year-on-year, ranking tenth.

● The Brazilian auto market's competitive landscape is diversifying.

◎ Strada and Argo dominate the pickup and compact car segments, respectively, reflecting Fiat's deep roots and precise market positioning. Argo's surge indicates robust demand for affordable sedans.

◎ Polo's sharp sales decline reflects pressure for model renewal, while T-Cross's growth highlights the SUV market's popularity. Volkswagen must adjust its product strategy to stay competitive.

◎ BYD Song Pro (25th place) entered the list as a new energy vehicle representative, but traditional fuel vehicles like Strada and Argo still lead, with market transformation taking time.

◎ Toyota Corolla Cross and Honda HR-V's strong growth indicates Japanese brands are gaining ground in the SUV segment, forming a three-way rivalry with Fiat and Volkswagen.

BYD Song Pro's popularity marks a significant breakthrough for Chinese brands in Brazil, with its new energy technology becoming a key differentiator. Great Wall Motors and Chery must further enhance their model competitiveness.

Summary

In March 2025, amidst steady sales growth in the Brazilian auto market, Fiat reinforced its leadership with strong Strada and Argo performances, while BYD set a new benchmark for Chinese brands, achieving record market share and robust sales of new energy models.