Over the last few years, the biggest market for Chevrolet outside of the United States was China – where the most vehicles have been sold on the planet since 2009. However, last year, Brazil surpassed the Asian country as the second largest Chevrolet market in the world.
In 2019, General Motors‘ largest global brand sold 475,684 vehicles in the Brazilian market, which represented a healthy increase of 10 percent over the previous calendar year. Meanwhile, Chevrolet sales in China dropped significantly to 418,000 units last year – the lowest in the last 15 years.
This is the first time in seven years that Chevrolet’s sales in Brazil exceed those in China. In 2012, the Bow Tie brand sold 643,100 cars in the largest South American country and 627,085 in the Chinese market.
The first time Chevrolet sales in China exceeded those in Brazil was in 2013, with a difference of just 2,285 units (652,077 vs. 649,792). Since then, the brand’s sales benefited from the solid growth that until recently characterized the Chinese market. Meanwhile, its sales in Brazil began to fall year after year.
The change of events is a consequence of the two opposite economic periods currently experienced by both countries. On the one hand, China’s economy faces a notable slowdown that in 2018 caused the first decline of the local auto industry in two decades. In contrast, in 2019, the Brazilian economy showed significant signs of improvement after several years of recession.
Along with the improvement of the economic landscape, another key factor that helped boost sales in the South American country is the resounding commercial success of the all-new Chevrolet Onix. The subcompact vehicle set a new sales record there in 2019, thanks to the launch of the second-generation model. As a result, Brazil regained its historical position as the foreign market with the highest sales volume for Chevy – at least for now.
Subscribe to GM Authority as we bring you the latest Chevrolet news, GM Brazil news and ongoing GM news coverage.
Comments
This is why GM isn’t concerned about selling compacts in the US and not making money off them anymore, at the least they’ll break even. The aircraft carriers GM sells here bring in the massive profits.
We expect Chevrolet sales keep rising in Brazil.
But 2019: 418,000 Chevys for China, almost 3,000,000 VWs. Where’s GM mistake?
not good news. gm is falling behind in china.
you can blame china’s slowing economy and the trade issue as factors, but when gm’s percentage drop in sales is nearly double the overall market, that means gm is losing in the biggest auto market in the world.
i’m afraid china is going to follow the north american market. the luxury market will be dominated by the germans. the middle by the japanese/koreans. the low end by the chinese themselves until they start creeping up the ladder.
in market after market, if there is robust competition, gm struggles.
Parade rainy?, GM sold 3 million vehicles in China in 19′ with a 3.9 % increase (Chevy isn’t the bread winner there, Buick is). The Euros and other Asians will struggle against Chinese brands if anything.