Which countries do the cars sold in Chile come from?

The automotive industry has undergone great changes in recent years. . From technology to safety, manufacturers have evolved to offer better products and be able to keep pace with the dozens of competitors that exist in the market.

Globalization has been another key factor in this development. Alliances between manufacturers, shared use of platforms and production capacities in different countries They have allowed brands to reduce their costs somewhat.

In this process, what was previously easily recognized (many years ago) as the origin of vehicles, Now this is something much more complex and difficult to know in its entirety. at least for most people.

For example, US brands bring their vehicles from Mexico, Mercosur or China . The same thing happens with the rest of the companies, which import from different parts of the world, except for Chinese brands, which bring everything from their country.

And in Chile, Do you know where the vehicles sold come from? Below we will show you the origins, some of which will surprise you.

The first thing to emphasize is that in our country there is a wide offer from which brands and representatives choose the models that matter. Here Chile’s suite of free trade agreements (FTAs) is key to diversity with a large number of countries around the world, which allows for lower costs than those demanded in other markets. To cite just one case, in Colombia Vehicles that do not have treaties must pay a 35% tax.

This significant amount of FTA gives Chile the advantage of having vehicles from the most notable origins. And if you think that, for example, the North American brand Chevrolet imports all its models from the United States, or that premium brands like Volvo or BMW do the same only from their facilities in Sweden or Germany, The truth is you are wrong.

According to reports from the National Automobile Association of Chile (Anac), the origin Chinese -counting models built in China of brands such as Chevrolet, Ford, Volvo or BMW- is by far the country where cars are imported the most, although in any case there was a decline last year compared to the same year in 2022.

The Anac study indicates that 35.4% of sales in 2023 corresponded to vehicles originating from the Asian giant, or 111,108 examples.

Far behind, they follow India (10.4%), Japan (8%), Brazil (7%), South Korea (5.9%), France (5.8%), Argentina (5.5%) and Mexico (5%), among others.

But these “traditional” origins are the best known to Chilean users. In addition to these countries, models built on four continents arrive in Chile, which testifies to the enormous diversification of the Chilean market and its great competitiveness.

In this list we can find vehicles of France (of the Peugeot, Citroën, Renault and DS brands), Germany (Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, among others), United Kingdom (Jaguar, Land Rover, MINI, McLaren), Italy (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, Fiat), Sweden with the Volvos and Spain (Seat and certain Citroën / Peugeot / Opel models).

But other more striking European origins are Russia with UAZ brand models; Czech Republic with the Skodas; Poland , with units of the Fiat 500; Since Romania The Renault Duster arrives; Since Türkiye certain versions of Ford Transit and Renault Clio; while since Austria you receive, for example, the BMW Z4 and from the factory Hungary the Suzuki S-Cross sold in these latitudes.

In Asia, a very important origin for our country, Thailand takes the lead (after China obviously) with trucks mitsubishi And Mazda .

Its importance is such that last year it represented 4.2% of the total market share. Of course, pick-ups aren’t the only ones coming from Thailand since Toyota owns the Southeast Asian Corolla and Yaris Sport.

But from this distant continent, besides China, India , Japan , Korea and the above Thailand vehicles are also received from Indonesia, such as the Suzuki XL7 and Toyota Rush.

And does Africa provide a model? Products from this continent are also arriving, with the Renault Express.

In America, Brazil This is the first origin (and fourth overall), with units from RAM, Fiat, Jeep and Citroén.

Then it follows Mexico -with models from Mazda, BMW, among others- and UNITED STATES from which, among others, Chevrolet, Ford and Jeep units are imported.

In South America, Renault models arrived a few years ago Colombia , but this production point has changed. Only the one mentioned remains Brazil in addition to Argentina which added the Nissan Navara and some versions of the Peugeot 208 as its latest products.

Another origin that was added in the recent past was Uruguay which contributes with certain versions of the Peugeot Landtrek, thus increasing the number of origins that supply the vast and diverse national automobile industry.

And you, did you know the more than 20 origins of cars sold in Chili ?