Panamá Car & LCV Sales : 2023

If you were thinking this is late then I'd have to concur. Data from here isn't that easy to get access to so I haven't been looking. I started seeking again and here it is. 

The only other report I have done of Panamá was in 2019 so a fair while between drinks. I said then that Chinese brands weren't as prominent here as in many other Latin American countries but they are making up for lost time. 

A 16% increase wasn't bad at all and the best result for five years. That said, it is below some of the big years before that. Top of the list is Toyota with a reduced lead. The Korean duo of Hyundai and Kia are next but some way back from Toyota. Hyundai was the leading brand in 2023 and 2014 but otherwise it's Toyota's place. 

Most of the top brands lost some market share but with a plethora of Chinese entrants who are taking some of that share, it's inevitable that existing brands will be affected. There are quite a few 'Other' sales which are presumably heavy vehicles.

Top selling models (all exceeding 1,000 sales) were the Toyota Hilux (3,100), Hyundai Accent (1,900), Hyundai i10 (1,800), Kia Soluto (1,770), Kia Picanto (1,525), Hyundai Creta (1,300), Kia Rio (1,100), Toyota Corolla Cross ( 1,050) and the Mitsubishi L200 (1,025). 

The Times They Are A-Changin'

Things are changing rapidly in the automotive industry. There are some 'disruptor factors' that are shaking things up. These have the potential to create a vastly different landscape from what we have now. 

To start off with one fizzer. We were all supposed to be in self drive cars by now but the intractable challenges that this has presented were massively underestimated and for now, it's been nothing but a money wasting exercise for many. 

One more real one is how cars are powered. Legislation pushing the industry away from fossil fuels has forced manufacturers into making electric cars but it's been costly and generally unprofitable. That there has not been a unified global implementation of incentives means it's been disruptive and yet not that effective. But it is still giving industry leaders some headaches as they try to balance these new issues. 

The biggest issue presently is the swift rise of the Chinese automotive industry. It is aggressive and some have claimed that unfair advantages are being used to achieve swift success. I'd call it short sighted foolishness as things that happen too quickly will create a negative reaction as it is too disruptive and damaging. 

One surprising development is the Honda-Nissan-Mitsubishi merger. It will take some careful decision making if it is to be successful as there are some issues such as Nissan's poor financial situation to be dealt with effectively. Honda has always been an independently minded company so they are taking China's disruption seriously. They may have also been persuaded into doing it as a move in the best interests of Japanese industry.

It will also mean that Renault's involvement with Nissan and Mitsubishi will surely be scaled back or terminated. Nissan wasn't happy with the power Renault had in that alliance so no tears will be shed on their part. I wonder what Renault is thinking?

With many car manufacturers struggling with profit downturns and reduced global market share, tough decisions have to be made. Greater cooperation between companies will surely happen and even mergers such as the one mentioned. There is no doubt that the times they are a-changin'.

Korea Premium Sales : 2015-2023

While mainstream cars are all but nonexistent on Korea, the desirability of premium marques allows them to fare far better. I'm not sure this goes down too well.

Genesis is the leading premium marque and by some distance. It started in 2003 but became a stand alone brand in late 2015. However, it was in 2020 that it took the lead with gusto. 

In 2023 registrations added up to 126,600 units with the G80 being the best selling model (43,200).

BMW has been advancing steadily and pipped MB in 2023, with 77,400 sales. The 5-Series/i5 was by far the top model for the marque with 21,400 finding new owners.

Mercedes-Benz has been the second strongest marque for a few years now but a slight fall to 76,700 sales in 2023 put it back into third. Its big hitter is the E-Class with 23,600 sold. 

After that, the gap to the other players is not inconsiderable. Audi used to be much stronger but it was punished as a result of Dieselgate and sales all but stopped in 2017. Then a slow rebuild of sales. 

They have come back to some degree but have not fully recovered. In total 17,900 cars were delivered by the Audi importer with the A6 accounting from 7,600 of those. 

The chart below repeats the lower part of the main chart as it expands the lesser marque's sales so we can see things in more detail.

Volvo has been growing and nearly reached Audi with 17,000 cars registered. Volvo is well ahead of Audi in 2024 so another good year for the brand. 5,860 XC60 models were delivered. 

Tesla is a late arrival, gaining momentum quickly but then leveling off. 16,800 were sold with the Model Y doing the heavy lifting. 

Lexus delivered 13,600 cars, led by the ES model. It has a settled Toyota look to volume. Porsche sold 11,350 cars, the Cayenne being the leading model. The marque had a good over the past few years.

Land Rover is now alone with Jaguar pulled from the market in 2022. 5,000 Land Rovers were sold in 2023 with the Range Rover by far the biggest selling model.

Finally an unusual combination of Lincoln and Cadillac under the USA label. They are not big in numbers with 5,000 sales between them in 2018 the best result. So I combined them. 

I didn't include Infiniti as there are enough brands there already and the fact sales were low, not exceeding 3,200 (in 2016). It was also pulled from the market in 2020. 

Summary: Much more activity going on here than with mainstream cars. There are also many luxury marques plying their wares but their data is scarce. 

Korea Local Mainstream Vs Imports : 2015-2023

Korea protects its car/lcv market so well that mainstream imports scarcely exist. Premium imports are not as price sensitive and do much better. 

The graph features Hyundai, Kia, other local manufacturers and import brands. The numbers on the left of the chart are in thousands so just add three zeros. 

Hyundai is the leader and hovers around the 600,000 mark. The best selling model in 2023 was the Grandeur at 113,000 units, nearly four times more than all import brands combined! 

Kia is next with a very consistent sales level. That's in the 530,000 region and its top selling model was the Sorrento at nearly 86,000. 

The 'Other Korea' category is comprised of KG Mobility (formerly Ssangyong), Renault Korea (formerly Samsung) and GM Korea (formally Daewoo). Two of those names sound suspiciously foreign so why are they not classed as such?

I'm glad you asked. Both basically sell only locally designed and made products. GM Korea does have a few import models but they sell in miniscule numbers. 

On to 'All Import Brands'. They currently cover Ford, GMC,  Honda, Jeep, Peugeot, Renault (separate to Renault Korea), Toyota and VW. Those that have dropped out from 2015 are Chrysler, Citroën, Fiat and Nissan. Collectively, they have dropped from 75,600 sales in 2015 to 30,600 in 2023. 

Summary. Choice in the mainstream area of the market is increasingly down to just two brands. If those two brands had one of their columns stacked on top of the other, the chart would have to be twice as high and the rest shrunk down to half of what you see now. 

So Korean brands enjoy unfettered access to many markets they all but shut out in return for mainstream cars. I assume the reason is to support the economy in South Korea. I guess the moot point is whether it's necessary anymore. 

Pictured are the KG Mobility Torres above and the GM Korea Trax below. In 2023 they reached 37,000 and 23,650 sales respectively.

Kei High Rider Sales Japan : 2015-23

Kei cars take over a third of the car market in Japan. Their uniqueness means that this slice of the Japanese market is not accessed by foreign brands. There aren't that many models and some are shared between brands to keep them profitable. The government plays its part by providing incentives to assist with their popularity. 

This group of Kei cars are the tallest of them, around the 1.74 metres and slightly taller. Although all are just 3.395 metres long, this gives a surprising amount of room. 

The Honda N-Box (top pic) is the best selling of not only Kei but all cars in Japan. It was introduced at the end of 2011 and was the top selling model in 2012 so an instant hit. 

The Daihatsu Tanto is the second best selling Kei car and the third overall. It arrived at the end of 2003 so it seems to be the first of this very tall Kei style. 

Suzuki's Spacia (lower pic) is the third strongest selling Kei and sixth overall. When introduced in 2008, it was called the Palette but when the second generation came out in 2013, it was given the Spacia moniker. 

The Nissan Dayz Roox arrived in 2014 but simply as the Roox from 2020.  As there is a Nissan Dayz also, I assume the name change was to differentiate the models. It is made by Mitsubishi and it's a very solid selling car. 

Now we enter pancake territory with little to separate the cars. There are shared with larger selling brands and sell in limited numbers.

The Mitsubishi eK Space which is the donor model for the Roox sells in much smaller numbers. That's not surprising as Nissan is a much larger brand in Japan. The Mazda Flair Wagon is basically the Suzuki Spacia and sold since 2013. Finally the Subaru Chiffon, using the Daihatsu Tanto so as to have an offering in this segment. It was introduced in 2017. 

Summary: I find them quirky and yet fascinating too. I would be tempted to own one but they only come to New Zealand in very limited numbers as used imports. 

U.S. Small SUV Sales Comparison : 2015-2023

These models are small in dimensions, especially in a big country. To me, they're an ideal size for zipping around town and still OK for longer commutes. They are 173-4 inches or 4.4 metres in length so not that small. 

The list goes up to 165,000 units sold so not huge numbers for a market the size of the US. This quartet are all US brands to keep the graph uncluttered and easier to view. 

The Ford Bronco Sport (top pic) is a newish model and is the leader here. It looks very similar to the Bronco model but is somewhat shorter in length. It's made in Mexico.

The Chevrolet Trailblazer (pic 2nd from top) was developed by GM Korea and is made there. It follows a similar path to the Bronco Sport but is not quite as successful in terms of numbers sold.

The Jeep Compass (lower pic) has had highs and lows in its recent sales journey and came in third for 2023. Like the Ford, it's made in Mexico for the US market.

The Jeep Patriot ended its sales run in 2017, the similar sized Compass effectively took over from it. I assume having two models so close to each other was deemed unnecessary.

All the models featured here are US brands. Ironically they are all imported but manufacturing costs presumably had a major role in things panning out that way.

U.S. Medium-Small SUV Sales Comparison : 2015-2023

These models I've categorised as Medium but possibly not described like that Stateside. They are around 180 inches or 4.62 metres in length. 

Six models were included here by 2023. The chart shows sales have recently fallen for the vehicles being considered here. 

The leader is the Chevrolet Equinox (pic at top) and a reasonably handsome lead it is too. Quite stylish too in my eyes. 

The Ford Escape was the leading model but has slipped a far way down in sales numbers but seems to have leveled off. 

The Chevrolet Trax has been a consistent selling model at around the 100,000 mark. It is slightly smaller than its stablemate the Equinox.

The GMC Terrain (pic 2nd from top) is the smallest vehicle for the brand and is related to the Equinox. It's had a few ups and downs of late but sharing with another GM product is cost effective. 

The Jeep Cherokee has been a stronger selling model than it is now and for that reason it is being discontinued. 

The Dodge Hornet (Pic below) has arrived and is based heavily on the Alfa Romeo Tonale. The idea of getting an existing model within Stellantis for Dodge had to be cost effective. The thing is it doesn't seem to be selling well. 

The numbers in the chart to the right are in thousands. Only US brands are included in this article. 

U.S. Medium SUV Sales Comparison : 2015-2023

These models I've categorised as Medium but possibly not described like that Stateside. They are around the 190 inch mark or 4.8 metres in length so still quite large. Only US brands are included in the chart below. 

The Jeep Grand Cherokee (top pic) is the largest selling of this sextet. A quarter of a million units is impressive and has climbed over this period.

The Wrangler is the correct size to be here for the four door but the two door variant is nowhere near so. The problem is I don't have a breakdown for each and I suppose it's right to keep them together to get a clearer picture of how the model sells. It sells in goodly numbers too but has slipped a tad of late. 

The Ford Edge is the best of the Ford trio listed here, although in 2023 it only just 'edged' the Bronco. I wondered why Ford would have two models so similar in size but it is pretty obvious. 

The Edge is more for the sealed road with a larger interior and superior cargo space. The Bronco (2nd pic) is more for the adventurous in that it is more suited for offroad use. It also has the rugged look and better ground clearance to match. 

The Chevy Blazer (lower pic) is GM's sole entry here. It seems to be slightly underwhelming when it comes to sales numbers although not too far back from the two Fords just above it. 

Finally, the Mustang Mach-E which is more car like and electric. It certainly isn't a big on the sales chart but certainly offers something different. One thing it isn't is a muscle car. 

U.S. Med-Large SUV Sales Comparison : 2015-2023

These models are big but not quite the largest so I've categorised them as Medium/Large. They are around the 200 inch mark or just over five metres in length so would be a tight fit in my garage. 

While the full sized models are in the 40,000-100,000 region, these models are just below in their dimensions and the numbers are up in the 60,000-180,000 area. 

The Ford Explorer (top pic - latest model) is the leader of this pack but has given up some of its sizable lead over the period under review. 

The Chevrolet Traverse (pic just above - 2019 era) sells well enough and has closed the gap by retaining its sales volume but is still some way off the Ford. 

The GMC Acadia (pic below - latest model) has been a little off the pace and slipped downward in terms of units sold over the past few years. 

That has given the steady as you go Dodge Durango the chance to overtake the Acadia, albeit marginally. Both are well short of the popular Explorer and even the Traverse.

PS. For those more familiar than myself about the models covered here, please feel free to leave a comment, no registration is required.  

The figures in the chart are thousands, going up to 270,000. Only US brands are featured. 

U.S. Large SUV Sales Comparison : 2015-2023

These vehicles are North America centric, rarely seen elsewhere. Their size alone makes them only really suitable for a large country that are left hand drive. They average 215 inches in length or nearly 5.5 metres.

Here there are two Chevrolets, a GMC, Ford and Jeep. I had to do measurement some research to find out the biggest and from that they were the ones that made the cut.

The Chevrolet Tahoe (top pic) has been the best selling of this quintet throughout the nine years covered here. Not by a large amount but consistently so. 

The GMC Yukon is next which I didn't expect, thinking the Ford may have edged it and did so in 2019 and 2020. There still isn't much between them.

The Ford Expedition (pic below) is next has improved its sales volume since 2019. The big Chevrolet Suburban (bottom pic) did outsell it but not over last few years. 

The last on the list is the Jeep Wagoneer which is only really had two years to get settled and doing OK, although I wonder if Stellantis had hoped for more. 

The numbers in the chart are in thousands. Only US brands are featured. 

If anyone would like to add to my knowledge on these vehicles, please leave a message. You don't have to register to do so. Just bear in mind this is a commercial free zone so promotional comments are not published. For that reason allow time for a comment to surface. 

Summary: They're big, and in my view far bigger than they need to be. That said, many obviously see it differently. Would I have a different opinion if I lived in the US? I'll never know. 

Euro Compact SUV Comparison : 2010/14-2023 (Part 2)

The second part of this segment generally features smaller volume models although not entirely. There are two sets to provide clarity C and D. A and B be can be seen by clicking here. C is all about Japanese brands and D is for Korean and a few stragglers that had to go somewhere.

Set C. The Nissan Juke (top pic) is very European with design input and manufactured in the region. It also sells well here. The Suzuki S-Cross (just below) is also made in Europe and while not as numerous as the Juke, it still does well. The Honda H-RV (two pics down) is not that popular but neither is Honda in this region. 

The Mitsubishi ASX was quite a good selling model and its claim to leave the region may have hurt its success but that seems to be no longer happening. The UK was a major market that no longer sells the brand. Since 2023, the ASX in Europe has been a rebadged Renault Captur. Too early to see if that does much. 

Finally the Mazda CX-3, a car I would describe as one of the worst packaged cars for this class. It should have been a regular car. Some people liked them but they weren't that popular in Europe and are no longer made anyway. The CX-30 is supposed to be a replacement but is too large for this category. 

Set D. In this group, the Jeep Renegade (bottom pic) was the first to arrive and a locally made SUV too. It did quite well but not so much lately. The Suzuki Vitara is of a similar ilk and has sold in very similar numbers, winning the sales battle in 2023. 

The Kia Stonic (just above) was next to arrive and has settled into a consistent sales level. The Kamiq then Škoda came in 2019 and has done very well in a short time. The Hyundai Bayon made its debut in 2023 and is steadily rising but too early to say how it will ultimately go.

Summary: The consumer is spoiled for choice in this segment. In a few years, the number of models available has exploded. Their size and practicalness mean their popularity is of no surprise. 

Picture source: Netcarshow.

Euro Compact SUV Comparison : 2013/15-2023 (Part 1)

As we have already seen the fall of the traditional car, now we can see their replacement below, the crossover/SUV. Some of the crossovers are nothing more than a slightly higher riding hatchback car but I guess you have to draw a line somewhere. 

Below are two graphs, done in small groups as there is a limit of how many can fit and still see what's happening. We will start with Set A, made up of Stellantis and one VW Group SEAT all with a South European flavour. Then below the charts, Set B with a broader cover including Ford and Toyota.

Set A. The Peugeot 2008 (top pic - 2020) and Renault Captur (second pic - 2018) both arrived in 2013 and have tracked each other closely. They have led this section of vehicles throughout with the former doing better over the last three years. The Fiat 500X arrived in 2015 but soon fell back disconcertingly. The SEAT Arona (pic just above - 2022) and Citroën C3 AirCross did something similar but have held up slightly better. It shows that even in a popular segment, success isn't a given.

Set B. The Opel Mokka has been around since 2013 but shown here from 2025. It settled nicely in the 160-170k region for a few years but it wilted quite badly after that. The second generation arrived in 2021 and is likewise based on a PSA platform. The Opel Crossland is yet another taking a PSA platform and after a reasonable start, noticeably fell back. In 2024 its replacement has been named the Frontera, a name revived from way back. 

VW was a bit slow getting into this area of the market but like buses, two arrived in quick succession. The T-Roc (pic two above - 2022) was introduced in late 2017 and the T-Cross came eighteen months later. They aren't that much different in size with the former growing strongly but the latter fading. 

The Ford Puma (pic below -2020) came with a crossover model in 2020 that has proved popular for a company eschewing traditional passenger cars. Toyota then entered the segment with the Yaris Cross (pic above - 2021) and its rise has been impressive, only the T-Roc is above it.

Summary. They have come recently but have taken over the passenger car market. Their practical nature appeals and there is no sign of their popularity going anywhere but up. 

Picture source: Netcarshow. Part two can be seen by clicking here.

Euro Small Car Comparison : 2000-23

How have small cars done over this century in Europe? So as not to clutter the graphs, I did it in two parts. The first has three French models with a Czech one thrown in randomly. The second more Germanic with a Toyota as a comparison.

First up, it is plain to see that the year 2000 had Peugeot (top pic 206 - 2003)and Renault as leading brands in this segment. Peugeot was on top, helped in part with its tendency to replace a model but keep the older one for a while, effectively having two entrants in the race. 

The volume race is over as we see the decline below. Citroën (2nd from top C3 - 2014) at times threatened to press the top two but never quite got there. I would say the surprise for me was the Škoda Fabia (above - 2019) which is a value for money proposition. It didn't reach the top and now is looking rather subdued. 

Not starting with as much volume as above, the still popular Corsa (above - 2007), Polo (below - 2022) and Fiesta (bottom - 2009) have run a fairly close battle with each other with the Toyota Yaris not too far off that trio. 

The Opel/Vauxhall Corsa started out on top but the Fiesta then took charge with the Polo always in the mix. The Fieats has now been axed as sales were very poor over the last few years. The Corsa still does OK but as usual, Toyota holds a steady line as the others declined.  

Small cross overs have hurt the above models. They are an ideal car for city driving but not enticing buyers anything like they used to.

Picture source: Netcarshow.