This was confirmed to Ambit, the owner of the entity that groups local manufacturers (CAFAM), Lino Stefanuto.
“The situation is very delicate. Companies whose foreign suppliers do not accept another form of payment are very complicated. The restriction was announced, in principle, until the end of October. If it is not lifted, after that date, the factories will have to stop production due to lack of inputs “ said the businessman.
The problem does not affect all companies equally. The most delicate scenario is faced by brands that are not subsidiaries of foreign companies, since they have no possibility of negotiating other forms of payments.
In the letter, sent to the Ministry of Productive Development and the Central Bank, they state the need for other alternatives to be implemented that allow advance payments for imports.
Faced with this restriction, production will continue until each manufacturer runs out of stock of parts.
In the country there are 13 companies that assemble motorcycles with 90% imported parts.
This conflict will have an impact on a sector that was on the rise, so much so that 2021 may become the year in which, for the first time, more motorcycles are sold than cars in Argentina, such as as advanced Ambit
Until September, the four-wheel market had been winning the tug-of-war, although with different realities. While in motorcycles the volume of operations grows month by month, encouraged by financing plans of up to 30 months, the 0 km are stagnant, which makes us suppose a very fought end.
The projections made by the different sectors predict an outcome with a slight advantage for motor vehicles.
The terminals grouped in ADEFA estimate that 2021 will close at around 370,000 units. It could be more, but it will depend on the supply of imported 0 km, something that is increasingly restricted by the lack of dollars.
Meanwhile, CAFAM and the concessionaires have an estimate of between 380,000 and 390,000. In this segment, motor vehicles assembled in the country offer a better supply availability and the weight of imported ones is lower. The problem is that, now, that scenario may change after the motorcycle manufacturers’ warning.
Regardless of who wins the fight, the mere fact of this very even situation already shows an unpublished image. In recent years, the difference in favor of car sales in relation to motorcycles was very marked.
For example, in 2019 -the last “normal” year, before the pandemic- the operations of both segments were 461,853 against 327,414. In previous years, the gap was almost always above 30%. The data for last September reflect the change in trend. In cars, 31,681 units were patented, 0.5% less than in the previous August and 9.5% below September 2020
On the other hand, in motorcycles, sales were 39,519 units. This represents 10% more than in August and 36.8% more than a year ago.
In the accumulated annual, the rhythm of motorcycle operations is growing by 45%, against the first nine months of 2020, while cars are up 23%.
Another data that confirms the new reality is that, in 2021, car sales will still be below 2019, but motorcycle sales will exceed the market of that year.
Without a doubt, the supply of products is decisive. Car dealers claim that the market could be 10-15% higher if 0 km were available. On the contrary, there are delivery delays and price premiums due to the conjunction of a restricted supply and a demand fed by the exchange rate gap.
But the economic situation is a key factor. Car prices were out of place relative to wages and maintenance costs went up by the same elevator. The cheapest cars are around $ 1,500,000.
Meanwhile, the most accessible motorcycles start at $ 95,000, while those in the most important segment, the 150cc urban ones, start at $ 145,000.
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