Chevrolet loses 42% of sales in seven years and faces crisis with dealer network

Chevrolet has lost 42% of sales volume in Brazil in seven years and faces the dissatisfaction of the chain itself, which wants to negotiate with the automaker an indemnity for those who decide to close their doors. The investigation is from Autoesporte.

In 2019, the brand was the sole leader in the Brazilian market, with 475,684 units registered and a 17.9% share, driven by the Onix, which sold more than twice as much as the second-placed Ford Ka. In 2025, there were 275,965 cars and a 10.8% market share.

In the same period, the car and light commercial vehicle market practically did not shrink, from 2,658,923 to 2,549,462 units: the brand did not lose sales because the pie decreased, but because others took its share. Fiat and Volkswagen closed 2025 with 20.9% and 17.1%.

BYD touches the podium

The pressure was explicit in August. For Fenabrave, Chevrolet sold 27,500 vehicles in the month, against 24,467 for BYD — a difference of just over 3 thousand units — and 41,404 for Volkswagen. The Chinese grew 149% in the annual comparison. To hold third place, the manufacturer offered incentives and bonuses to sellers in the final stretch of the month and sold almost 5 thousand cars in two days.

At the retail end, the scenario is harsher. In a recent survey by Fenabrave, the Chevrolet chain gave the worst score among all brands to the statement that the automaker’s products are what the customer wants, and was below average in remuneration for sales and perception of brand appreciation. Autoesporte found that, in region 1 — which brings together São Paulo, ABC Paulista and Baixada Santista — there are dealerships with less than ten monthly sales to individuals, with the rest of the volume sold to companies.

With more than 550 stores in the country, the chain sees downsizing as a way out, but GM has not yet signaled cuts. Some groups already share space with Chinese brands: Carrera has opened GWM and Omoda Jaecoo points alongside units previously exclusive to Chevrolet.

In a note sent to Autoesporte, the automaker said that “GM and Abrac maintain a joint and permanent performance with the Chevrolet network”, with a focus on competitiveness, profitability of dealerships and customer experience.

Answer may come from China

The commercial reaction should go through SAIC, GM’s partner in China in a joint venture renewed for another 20 years, until 2047. The agreement resulted in the Spark EUV and the Captiva EV, already sold in Brazil, and the Captiva PHEV and a compact electric hatch that should be called Joy EV — the Chinese Wuling Bingo Pro, scheduled for 2027. There is also a sedan under development, with electric and plug-in hybrid versions.

Autoesporte also found that dealers received, on a trip to China, confirmation that Buick will land in Brazil, which would allow it to convert part of the network. The operation, however, would not start before 2028, and GM did not confirm the plan.