South America leads car sales despite global decline

Car and light commercial vehicles sales in South America held strong in 2018, despite the world average posting a decline for the first time since 2009 just after the international financial crisis.

While sales worldwide fell 0.5% to 58.5 million in 2018 compared to the previous year, sales in South America rose 7% year-over-year to 4.3 million units and, according to international vehicle data and consultancy firm Jato Dynamics, it was the best performing region (sales increase)  in the world. The second best was Asia-Pacific which was up 3.3% to 10.65 million units.  
 

The country boasting the best performance in the region was Brazil which posted a 14% increase, selling 2.47 million vehicles. Considering the 54 largest markets in the world, Brazil only fell behind Thailand which posted a 20% jump.

Vehicle types doing well in South America last year were compact SUVs and pickups.