New car sales grew by just 5.6% in the first half of the year, well below the 14.8% increase achieved in the same period in 2013.
Figures from the National Statistics Institute reported that between January and July 2014 28.381 new cars were sold, which is 1,511 more than in the same period in 2013.
"...Official statistics also indicate that the market segment which saw the strongest percentage growth was buses with 1,027 units sold, a 70% increase, followed by minivans (433 units or 23.7%) and luxury cars (1,369 units or 11.4%). "
In the first seven months of this year 33,245 new vehicles were sold, which is 4.7% more than in the same period last year, with Toyota, Hyundai and Kia's being the best-selling brands.
During the first seven months of this year 33,245 new vehicles were sold in the country, 4.7% more than the 31,745 units sold between January and July 2013, maintaining the dynamism of previous months.
In the first four months of the year 18,000 new cars were sold, 10% more than in the same period in 2013.
With the sale of 4,797 new vehicles between January and April 2014, Toyota ranks as the best-selling car brand in the country. In second place is Hyundai, with 3,245 units and in in third place Kia, with 2,917 vehicles sold.
"According to statistics from the Automobile Dealers Association of Panama (ADAP) ...
In 2013 61.815 vehicles entered the country having a total value of $540 million, with Toyota, Kia and Honda being the three most imported brands.
In 2013 vehicle imports into Guatemala fell by 5.5% compared to total imports in 2012, going from $570 million to $540 million (CIF value), according to a report prepared by the Department of Commercial Intelligence at CentralAmericaDATA.COM.
In the first quarter of 2013, 17,105 cars were sold , ie 2,296 more than in the same period in 2012.
Prensa.com reports that "this represents an increase of 16% as from January to April 2012 14,809 units were sold, according to statistics from the Automobile Dealers Association of Panama (ADAP)".
The best selling brand during this period was Toyota with 3,672 units, followed by Hyundai with 3,556 units and Nissan 2,460 with new units.