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The automotive retail opened April with changes at the top and in the middle of the ranking, in a scenario that reinforces the competition between electric vehicles, compact SUVs, and Chinese brands for space among the best-selling models in the country.
The automotive retail market started April with the BYD Dolphin Mini in the lead and with a significant change in the intermediate group of sales.
In the assessment of the first 15 days of the month, the electric compact totaled 3,003 registrations, ahead of the Hyundai Creta, with 2,557, and the Caoa Chery Tiggo 5X, with 1,934.
The data reinforces the model’s performance in retail after it finished February and March in first place among sales to the final consumer, according to a survey published by Webmotors.
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In addition to the isolated leadership, the numbers from the first half of April indicate an important change in the composition of the ranking.
The Dolphin Mini opened 446 units of advantage over the Creta, a difference that placed it in a prominent position at the beginning of the month.
In the total for the first quarter, according to the same assessment, the model recorded 13,684 retail licenses, ahead of the Creta itself and the Volkswagen Tera.
BYD Dolphin Mini leads retail in April
The data from the first half of the month shows that the Dolphin Mini maintained the pace observed in previous months.
The Creta continued among the models with the greatest presence in retail, while the Tiggo 5X remained among the top three.
The combination of these results shows that the competition remains concentrated in models from distinct segments, with electric vehicles and compact SUVs sharing space in the top positions.
In February, data from Fenabrave had already confirmed the Dolphin Mini’s leadership in the national retail market.
The result drew attention from the sector because the electric model surpassed high-volume competitors in a market historically dominated by compact hatches and SUVs.
In April, the maintenance of this performance suggests continuity of this trajectory, although the month’s closing was still necessary to confirm the trend.
Geely EX2 gains space among the best sellers
If the leadership of the Dolphin Mini had already been observed, the intermediate part of the ranking concentrated the main novelty of the first half of the month.
In this range, the Geely EX2 appeared in 18th place, with 1,176 units, above the Caoa Chery Tiggo 7, which totaled 1,164, and the Toyota Corolla Cross, with 1,140.
In front of it were the Hyundai HB20, with 1,213, and the BYD Dolphin, with 1,206.
The small gap between these models shows a fairly balanced block.
In this group, just a few dozen registrations were enough to change the order of the table.
This data gains relevance because it brings together vehicles already established in the Brazilian market and a model that has started to receive more exposure in recent months.
Geely’s exposure on BBB 26 and its effect on the market
The advancement of the EX2 in the news coincided with the increased presence of Geely on BBB 26.
In February, the brand announced a partnership with the program.
On April 1, 2026, the EX2 was showcased in a Leader’s Test, as part of the automaker’s promotional actions in the reality show.
In institutional material, the company presented the initiative as a strategy to connect with the Brazilian audience.
Gshow, when reporting the action, also referred to the vehicle as a 100% electric hatch.
The prime-time airing occurred at a time of greater commercial visibility for the model.
In March, specialized reports mentioned a waiting list exceeding 30 days at some dealerships and cited limited availability in various regions of the country.
This context helps explain the more frequent presence of the EX2 in discussions about the retail market, although there is no public data that allows us to assert, with certainty, what portion of this result directly stemmed from exposure on the program.
Ranking of the best-selling cars in retail
The reading of the ranking allows us to observe three simultaneous movements.
The first is the continued leadership of the Dolphin Mini in the Brazilian retail market at the beginning of April.
The second is the continuity of compact SUVs already established among the top positions, such as Creta and Tiggo 5X.
The third is the growing presence of Chinese models in market segments that until recently were predominantly occupied by already traditional brands in the country.
At the same time, the numbers show that the retail market remains highly competitive.
The Dolphin Mini’s lead was built with a wider margin, but the group just below remained close.
A similar situation appeared in the intermediate area, where the difference between HB20, Dolphin, EX2, Tiggo 7, and Corolla Cross was small.
In practice, this indicates that the ranking could still undergo changes as the month progresses.
This scenario also coincides with the expansion of electrified vehicles in Brazil.
Data released in April showed that registrations of electrified vehicles reached 39,621 units in March 2026, with growth of 89.23% in the first quarter compared to the same period of the previous year.
The data encompasses different technologies and does not refer only to retail, but helps to contextualize the environment in which electric models have started to appear more frequently among the best sellers.
Automotive market has a more open competition
The performance of the first 15 days of April indicates a market less concentrated on a few vehicle profiles.
Compacts, SUVs, and electric vehicles appear mixed in the upper ranges of the ranking, which increases competition among brands and categories.
In this context, the leadership of the Dolphin Mini and the presence of the EX2 above the Corolla Cross drew attention because they involved models associated with the new phase of expansion of Chinese automakers in the country.
On the other hand, the partial survey does not allow treating the situation as definitive.
Since it is a snapshot of the fortnight, the consolidation of these positions would depend on the closing of the month and the maintenance of the registration pace.
Still, the initial data already showed a change in the retail landscape, both at the top and in the middle of the table.
Overall, the findings reveal a more open environment for position changes and the entry of new competitors among the best sellers.
In a market historically dominated by brands and models with a strong presence, the combination of rising electric vehicles, greater advertising exposure, and changes in consumption patterns has begun to more strongly influence the sales picture to the end consumer.
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