Brazil’s auto sales in December 2020 stood at 363,163 units, down by 2.05pc as compared to 370,748 units the same month year prior, but up by 8.62pc from November, according to data released by the National Federation of Automobile Dealerships (Fenabrave).
In December, the country’s car and light commercial vehicles (LCV) sales grew by 8.66pc to 232,814 units from 214,260 units in November but fell by 7.53pc from Dec 2019.
Truck sales in December stood at 9,639 units, up by 6.84pc from 9,022 units in November and by 15.74pc as compared to 8,328 units in the preceding year. The good supply of credit and the improvement in commodity prices boosted and continued to keep the demand for trucks high, the association noted.
New bus registrations in December stood at 1,551 units, down by 11.07c from 1,744 units in November and by 36.28pc as compared to 2,434 units in December 2019, while two-wheeler sales grew by 10.5pc to 98,831 units from 89,438 units in November and by 5.02pc from 94,103 units in the year before.
Tractor sales for the month rose by 32.69pc to 4,205 units from the same month in 2019.
Total auto sales in 2020
The country’s cumulative auto sales in 2020 declined by 21.63pc to 3.16mn units as compared to 4.03mn units in 2019.
The Brazilian auto industry was severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the first half of 2020, especially in April when it plunged by 99pc. Automakers faced problems during the period due to the lack of auto parts and components apart from maintaining the rules for social distancing in the manufacturing units.
The auto industry slowly recovered in H2,2020. The association said that increase in the sales in the second half of the year was driven by various factors including the maintenance of low-interest rates and the Emergency Aid offered by the Brazilian Government. As a result, the loan offers improved, giving a boost to the purchasing power of consumers to buy vehicles.
Cars and LCV sales in 2020 stood at 1.95mn units, down by 26.62pc from 2.65mn units in the previous year, while sales of trucks fell by 12.31pc to 89,207 units as compared to 1mn units in the preceding year.
Sales of buses in 2020 stood at 18,219 units, down by 33pc from the prior year, while two-wheeler sales declined by 15.04pc to 915,502 as compared to 1mn units sold in 2019.
Tractor sales in 2020 rose by 3.48pc to 41,497 units from 40,100 units sold in the previous year.
Outlook
The association is expecting a recovery in auto sales in Brazil and has projected a growth of 16.6pc in 2021 as compared to the 2020 figures.