Car sales retreat in first half of October, while SUVs gain space and electrics surpass plug‑in hybrids

In the first half of October, Brazil’s light‑vehicle market recorded 103,184 registrations, a 5.7% drop from the same period last year and a 5.8% decline versus the first half of September. The decline masks a daily‑average increase of 3.8% compared with the previous year, thanks to 10 business days in the period versus 11 in 2025.

SUVs dominated the market, representing 42.3% of all registrations—up from 36.4% in October 2025—while electrified vehicles captured 22.6% of the market with 23,287 units, a 95% year‑on‑year volume surge. Fully electric models led the electrified segment with 8,747 units, outpacing plug‑in hybrids, which logged 6,906 registrations.

Chinese brands accounted for 20.6% of the market, down from 22.7% in September. Fiat maintained overall leadership, selling 19,291 light vehicles and holding an 18.7% market share. Volkswagen followed with 16,459 units (16% share), General Motors registered 8,967 units, and BYD finished fourth among brands with 8,896 units.

At the model level, Fiat Strada topped the list with 6,958 registrations, Hyundai HB20 came second with 5,580, and BYD Dolphin Mini secured third place with 3,840 units. The list also featured the Volkswagen T‑Cross and Tera SUVs.

Bright Consulting noted that the rise in electrified sales coincided with a potential reduction in the inventory of more affordable models, which may have influenced the quarter’s results, though no definitive link was established. The Brazilian light‑vehicle market has grown 17.7% since the start of the year, reaching 2.25 million units.

Source: AutoInforme