[Auto-Moto]Cars arriving in 2021 Brands will present models that were postponed by the pandemic

[WilkerCSBD]

Every year in Argentina represents a challenge for the automotive market. And to the problems of our system was added the global disaster that the coronavirus pandemic meant.

But the sector must keep moving because, and this year it proved better than any other, sales of 0 km cars can come at the least expected moment.

The year started accumulating months of sales drops from last year, which anticipated a negative 2020. But since March 19, with mandatory isolation dictated by the Government, the storm clouds have turned into the perfect storm.

The country's dealerships were closed for weeks. Photo: José Gutierrezi / Los Andes
The country's dealerships were closed for weeks. Photo: José Gutierrezi / Los Andes

Factories, dealerships and auto registries were closed and the sector showed no movement for weeks. To make matters worse, there was already an accumulated stock that generated the meager sales of the past months.

Therefore, when sales timidly resumed in May in some areas of the country, the discounts offered could reach up to 30% of the list price.

But the gap with the blue dollar changed, widened and June and July began to show an unforeseen acceleration in the sale of new vehicles.

Gradually the bonuses were disappearing and the situation took a 180 degree turn: in the dealerships they stopped "offering" vehicles and sales were agreed with surcharges.

The situation became even more complex due to the lack of units (a few months ago there was an excess of stock): the Government began to block the entry of cars from abroad and those of national production, which had free access, still accused the time they were without manufacturing, added to the delays for delivery of auto parts.

With all this, 2020 will close the year with just under 350,000 units sold, a very low number taking into account installed capacity and market potential, but better than projected for some part of the year.

And it is estimated that in 2021 0 km sales will grow to about 450 thousand units. To respond to this demand, the brands are planning the following launches.