In 2022, Argentina was located in the fourth place in world production of these vehicle modelsbehind of Thailand, the United States and China; and ahead of South Africa and Mexico, as indicated by Adefa based on data from the consultancy Abeceb.
Likewise, the country positioned itself within Latin America as the main supplier supplying 50% of the market for these vehiclesincluding Mexico, a country that specializes in the production of larger pickups.
In 2022 252,482 midsize pickups were producedwhich involved a growth of 10.2% with respect to the 229,177 vehicles of 2021.
Of that amount, one 69.23% (174,797 cars) was destined for the exportwhich presented an increase of 7.3% compared to the figures for 2021 (162,890).
The specialization to which the investments aim comes hand in hand with their export orientation. Thus, The Argentine automotive market continues to focus on specialization and export in the long termsomething that is also reflected in the latest investments announced.
This week Ford announced an investment of US$80 million in the plant that it owns in the Buenos Aires town of pacheco to develop a new generation of state-of-the-art engines for the Ranger pickup that will go into production next year.
With this amount directed to motors, the planned investment for production of the next generation Ranger will reach a total of US$660 million.
precisely the Rangers It is one of the exponents of the specialization model followed by the national industry. A 70% of the production of the model is exported to other Latin American markets.
The president of Ford Argentina and head of Adefa, Martin Galdeanoexpressed that “30% of the investment” that the company will make will be destined to “a very ambitious plan for the national location of auto parts.”
In this sense, the project contemplates a production of Argentine origin of 41% for the manufacture of the modelabove the 25% integration that national vehicles averaged four years ago.
The investment also contemplates the transformation of the Pacheco engine plant with the incorporation of the latest technologies and production processes of the company at a global level.
Ford is not the only case: last month the alliance made by Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi announced the manufacturing a new compact pickup of half a ton at the Santa Isabel plant located in the city of Córdoba.
This future model -of which details will be specified soon- joins the production in Santa Isabel of the Renault Alaskan and Nissan Frontier pickups, and its announcement is part of the new collaboration framework agreement signed by the French automaker with the Japanese company, associated years ago 24 years.
Similar to Ford, the company’s strategic plan seeks increase the level of national integration to 35% of its components.
In the case of the model frontier – which has been produced at the plant since 2018 and received a restyling in 2021 – Nissan announced last week the start of its export to Chileadding as a destination to Colombia and Brazil.
Faced with the demand for new destinations and the need to increase production, both Renault and Nissan decided last year to incorporate a second shift of operations at the Cordoba plant, which implied the incorporation of 550 new jobs.
In this plant, in addition to the models Alaskan and Frontierthe firms produce the Kangoo Express, Stepway, Sandero and Logan
Other companies also export pickups: Toyota continues to produce his model hilux at its plant in Zárate, and meters from the Ford plant in General Pacheco, Volkswagen does the same with the Amarok.
In the case of the automotive japaneseit recently incorporated a third shift of production in Zárate with an investment of US$60 million and adding 2,000 new jobs.
Toyota thus seeks to bring its annual exports to u$s4,000 million and its production to 182,000 units.
Likewise, the signature – which In 2022, 83% of its production was destined for export– owns a percentage of local integration of more than 40% and the increased demand will lead to its purchase of local auto parts exceeding US$100 million.
Twenty-three Latin American countries make up its export destinations, most of which were supplied until a few years ago by its subsidiary in Thailand, as recently indicated to Télam Radio by the president of the local subsidiary, Gustavo Salinas.
On the other hand, in the case of Volkswagenthe German firm exports the Amarok to 30 markets, including destinations outside of Latin America such as South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
The company announced last May an investment of US$250 million and the incorporation of 400 new posts to, among other points, renew the design, safety and technology of this model that has been produced in the country since 2010.
But pick-ups are not the only specialty of Argentine exports: the country also exports SUVs like the Chevrolet Tracker and the Volkswagen Taos, and utility like the Renault Kangoo, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and the Toyota SW4.
Source: Ambito
