New for Cruze and 2008

With an overheated dollar, it seems that all the information from the automotive sector goes through the exchange market. However, other things are also happening in the industry that are worth pointing out. For example, news about domestic production models that arrive or leave. For the latter case, the news goes through the Chevrolet Cruze that is produced at the Alvear plant. The four and five-door model, which was a spearhead for General Motors, reaches its end of life. The expected deadline is November, according to the parts supply plans that the suppliers manage. Of course, the exact moment can be modified, forward or backward, depending on operational issues. For example, the issue of savings plans. What is certain is that it does not reach the end of the year. In this way, the Santa Fe factory will focus on manufacturing the Tracker SUV.

Two other models that are coming are the Peugeot 2008 and the Toyota Hiace utility. In the case of the vehicle of the Japanese brand, Ámbito has been reporting the progress on its implementation. It will be assembled at the Zárate plant on a special line that is already being built. Due to the expected initial volume (it would be less than 10,000 units per year) it will be done on a fixed line. Towards the end of this year there will be news. As for the French SUV (known internally as the P24 project), progress continues in the quote for parts and other details to produce it at the plant in the town of El Palomar, where the 208 that uses the same platform comes out. Nobody wants to take their national production for granted, but the levels of progress suggest that there must be a definition no later than 2024.

In addition to these productive issues, in the commercial part it is increasingly noticeable that the market is cooling off. The lack of imported vehicles prevents sales from growing and in terms of nationals – except for the specific case of what happens with the Toyota Hilux, which continues to be in high demand and with delays in deliveries – discounts are beginning to spread. It can be seen in some versions of the 208 or the Volkswagen Amarok pickup. Also from the Fiat Cronos. The issue of premiums is highly concentrated in imported cars (and not all) that today represent less than 30% of the market. The rest begin to sell at list prices. It is always said that with a greater supply of vehicles the market could grow more. This year 420,000 operations are expected. But it wouldn’t be much bigger, even with better availability because, for years, an important change has been taking place, which is the disappearance of small models. At the prices that 0 km are sold in the country and with a beaten purchasing power, the pockets are not there to reach medium or high-end models. The idea that Argentina is a country to sell 650,000 units, as a reasonable volume, will have to be adapted to the new economic reality and the shift in the segment of models offered.