Venezuela Sales : 2025

I used to write about Venezuela, sales by brand and sales by model data provided by Cavanez. Local assembly collapsed and car sales all but dried up. Then things have recently taken a turn for the better. Reports in the media indicated the industry was returning and local assembly was growing.

In 2022, 8,300 vehicles were sold, dropping to 7,313 the following year. In 2024, a jump to 17,558 units. For 2023, just 72 vehicles were assembled and then in 2024 4,384 units. This was still tiny compared to the boom times. Back in 2007, nearly half a million vehicles were delivered in what has always been a volatile market. 

Still, huge pent up demand is finally being addressed. In a country where a used car can cost more than a new one, any respite would be most welcome. 

To the right is a chart of sales that have been released to the public. 

Chinese brand JAC is doing really well, with vehicles hitting the road in numbers. 

Toyota was top in 2024, but despite an 80% increase, it yielded its top spot. Changan retained its third place.

I usually do market share variance but in this instance the extreme right column (Inc +/-) is sales variance. In this case all going up.

To the left are the top ten models for 2025. JAC has used unique local names for its models. The Arena is the JS2 and the Nevado the JS4. The Venezolana and Aventura are the Frison T6 and T9. 

As to how the current political situation will affect vehicle sales going forward is uncertain. The demand is there but there are many other factors that need to align in order to push sales forward. 

Data Cavanez. Photos JAC Venezuela (Arena & Adventura).

Brazil Top 50 Models: 2025

Looking down the list, the mixture of colours shows the diversity of the market. Not having a local brand to support adds to that. 

Europe is strong but so too is the USA and increasingly China. Japan is not far off the pace but apart from two models, Korea is not represented. 

The leading model is the Fiat Strada, which is a small leisure vehicle/pick uptruck. The VW Polo and Chevrolet Onix are tussling it out for second the spot.

Brazil has a large car assembly industry. The country recently started phasing in increased tariffs on imported electric and hybrid cars. Renenue raised will be used to encourage local manufacturing of more sustainable vehicles. 

It will also raise tariffs on cars assembled from kits which designed to encourage more manufacturing locally, adding value to the assembly. 

Photos: Fiat (Strada) & GM (Onix) Brasil. 

Panamá Top 20 Models: 2025

It's of note that all the models here are of Asian origin. The three colours highlight where from.

Photos: Toyota Hilux & Hyundai Venue.

Brazil Passenger Car Sales : 2025

From the outset, I'd like to point out that there are various sources in Brazil and the data never quite aligns. It's not a major issue though. Another thing is that some of the small brands are not included or are on an intermittent basis. 

Registrations were up 3% for the year and up 8% compared to the average over the previous ten years. VW has held the lead since 2023 with GM and Fiat having been on top in years before that. 

The top four rankings from last year are repeated although Chrysler (Jeep mainly) swapped places with Toyota. BYD moving into seventh place is an improvement of three. Renault has dropped two but overall there isn't much change on last year. 

For 2024 articles, simply click on the links below:

By brand.

Top 50 Models.

Data: Anfavea (mainly). Pictures: VW (Virtus) & Fiat (Argo) Brasil.

Panamá Car & LCV Sales : 2025

Registrations were +11% in 2025 and up 22% when compared to the average over the previous ten years. 2025 is not a record year, but certainly up there. 

Toyota took the lead in Panamá during 2014 and hasn't looked back. It's 19% market share is substantial in a market not protecting local manufacturers through import duties. 

Kia and Hyundai also do well but then it drops away quite sharply. Geely and Suzuki are just over the 5% share mark. Asian brands are the most popular with many new Chinese ones adding to that. 

In all, ninety brands are competing here in the passenger car and light commercial sector. Despite that, as we have seen, the big guns are still firing plenty of shots back. 

Perú Car/LCV Sales : 2025

The market was up 24% YTD so a record year. 2025 was up 38% on the average for the previous ten years! The top 25 brands plus premium ones are available from AAP and that is what is shown below. 

The Share column highlights market share movement, not volume. Many that appear to be selling less have increased sales but not kept pace with the brisk increase.  

Toyota is comfortably the top brand with 20.5% of the market. 

Hyundai and Kia shadow each other closely with a combined 18.3% share. 

The Chinese brands are now well established. JAC is a regular in the top 10, the JS2 to the right. 

Changan has passed Chevrolet into fourth place. In sixth place is DFSK and the Glory 600 model is shown above. Ford has gone up three spots but Suzuki has lost three and Nissan is down seven places to 14th. So it is quite volatile. 

None of the premium marques make the top 25 but I assume BMW must be very close to doing so. It would be nice to have more information to confirm that, but at least we can get a reasonable picture of the situation. 

Colombia Top 50 Model Sales : 2025

The models below are colour coded to reflect their origin. The diversity stands out. Japan is the most represented in the chart (17), ahead of Europe (14) and Korea (13). 

The Renault Duster became the best selling model, displacing the Mazda CX-30 which I was surprised was so popular. 

Photos: Hyundai (Kona) & Toyota (Prado) Colombia. 

Data source: ANDEMOS. 

Colombia Passenger Car Sales : 2025

Registrations were up 26% which meant that most brands increased their volume. However, the 'Share' column below reveals who gained or lost market share. I included taxi registrations as they are passenger cars. Sales are up 6% compared to the average for the last ten years. 

Kia confirmed its top spot for a second year, having displaced Renault in 2023. It has extended its lead this year. Chevrolet was the number one brand back in 2016 but has now slipped to sixth. As is often the case, a jump in sales generally isn't replicated with premium marques.   

Nearly 4,700 new taxis joined the fleet, with Kia and Hyundai accounting for nearly 3,800 of them. It seems people are switching taxis for cars with taxi sales dropping 11.5% compared to the hike in car sales.

Data source: ANDEMOS. Picture sources: Kia & Renault.

Uruguay Top 30 Passenger Car Models : 2005

With the models coloured according to the place of origin they are associated with, it makes for a varied pattern. BYD leads the market if no commercial vehicles are included; third if light commercials are added. 

Data source: ACAU.

Photos: BYD Uruguay. The Yuan Pro (top) & Seagull (below).

Uruguay Car/LCV Sales : 2025

Registrations were up 9% to 69.000, a good result. Better still, it was 40% up the the previous ten year average! 2025 was a record year, beating the previous best of 2024. 

Fiat moved into top spot, ending Chevrolet's three year tenure in that cherished ranking. BYD has moved into third and surely has intent on improving on that. Many other Chinese brands are now present here and doing quite well. 

It's unusual to see Toyota back at 13th, the lowest place since a poor year it had in 2015. That reflects what a tough market place this is, with a plethora of brands entering the scene and making for a congested and competitive environment. 

For passenger car sales from 2024:

By Brand. and By Model.

Data source: Ascoma. 

Photos: Fiat Mobi & Chevrolet Captiva, from Fiat & GM Uruguay.  

Argentina Top 50 Models: 2025

Registrations for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles were up 48% so plenty of increases in the =/- column. The upsurge comes after a low 2024 and government measures designed to stimulate the economy. 

The data is in places unaudited, but at least gives a reasonably accurate picture. By colour coding, we see that European models (green) are the most popular with 30 in the Top 50. US (12) and Japanese (7) make up the rest, bar one. 

Data source: SIOMAA & a few estimates.

Picture sources: Fiat (Fastback) & VW (Tera). 

Chile Car Sales : 2025

Registrations were up 2% for the year but 15% down on the average over the previous ten years. Chinese brands are well established here, with three in the top ten (if including the historically British MG brand) and others not too far away from possibly joining them. 

Suzuki took the top spot last year from Hyundai and has consolidated its place there in 2025. It has been a popular brand in Chile for many years, but not usually number one. Chevrolet was the best selling brand in 2022 but is now fifth and has lost more market share in 2025 although still retaining its ranking for now. 

For the 2024 article, simply click on the link below:

By brand. 

Data source: ANAC. Photos: Suzuki Chile & Chery Chile. 

Chile Top 30 PC/LCV Models : 2025

In Argentina they mainly buy European brands, across the Andes in Chile they are partial to Asian ones. 

Toyota is the largest brand when light commercials are included. Otherwise, it's Suzuki at the top.

Korean brands do well here and Chinese ones are well established. The US is also reasonably well represented. 

Pick up trucks are the leading three models and SUVs are also sought after.

Chinese brands major on value and features which obviously strikes a chord with many, especially here. 

Durability is a question to be asked, but long warranties alay such fears. 

Photo source: GWM (Poer) & Chery (Tiggo 2) Chile.

Data source: ANAC. 

Argentina Car/LCV Sales : 2025

Registrations for cars and light commercials have been well down for several years. This year, sales returned with a bang. They were up 48% for the year and 10% up on the average for the last ten years. It is still short of some of the record years, but 2025 will be the best year since 2018. 

Toyota is enjoying its fifth consecutive year at the top, but VW is now not far behind. Toyota has dropped from 21.7% share to 16.8% while VW has nearly held on to its share of the pie. 

Finding a brand that has actually decreased in volume is all but impossible, such has been the strong registrations. The chart below shows market share variance. 

For Argentina 2024, click the titles below:

Top 50 models.

Brand Sales.

Data source: SIOMAA. 

Picture sources: Fiat & Peugeot. 

Colombia Top 50 Passenger Car Model Sales : 2024

Kia leads the way here with the tiny Picanto model, which is shown above carrying a generous load of goods. Mazda comes in next with the CX-30 with the Toyota Corolla Cross breathing down its neck. The Chevrolet Tracker fell nine places so it needs some love, hence the picture at the bottom of the article. 

Data source: ANDEMOS. Picture sources: Kia Colombia & Chevrolet Colombia.

Colombia Passenger Car/Taxi Sales : 2024

Total sales were 165,000 for 2024, a 14% increase. That is some way down on recent averages but at least it was a healthy rise in volume. The average for the last ten years (including 2024) is 197,000)

It may seem odd to include taxis in the title but they are counted as a segment, with 5,300 new cars added to the taxi fleet around the country. Kia accounted for just over half of them. 

Taxis enabled Kia to become number one for the year, ending Renault's seven year reign at the top. BYD is yet again moving up the rankings. Chinese brands have been here for some time and are yet to crack the top ten but that may be about to change. 

Data source: ANDEMOS. Picture source: Renault Colombia.

Brazil Top 50 Car/LCV Models : 2023/24

With registrations up 14% in 2024, there is no surprise with the number of increases we see in the chart below. What may surprise is the number of Chinese models making it into the top 50. They are highlighted in pink (along with Korea) to make them easier to find. 

The USA also has a fair representation (dark blue) and Japan (yellow) also having popular models here. Europe isn't left out (light blue), doing better at the top end of the list. The Fiat Strada (picture above) is the best selling model. The picture below is the newly arrived BYD Dolphin Mini.

Data source: Fenebrave.