In the first eight months of the year car sales increased by 5% compared to the same period last year, a rate which is less than the growth in previous months.
The speed of growth in car sales in Panama continues to decline. Between January and August 38,034 vehicles were sold, which is just over the 36,190 units sold in the same period in 2013, according to data from the Association of Automobile Dealers in Panama (Adap).
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.
Between 2009 and 2013 the number of Chinese vehicles in the Costa Rican Public Registry multiplied by 9.
In the last five years, Chinese vehicles went from 0.3% of new cars registered in the country to 2.2% in 2013, according to the National Registry Office. Brands such as BYD, Changan, Geely, Greatwall, JAC and ZAP, have been gaining ground in the Costa Rican market.
Between January and October 2013 car dealers sold 46,983 new vehicles, more than the 6,379 cars sold in the same period of 2012.
The top selling brands include Hyundai, Toyota and Kia. The first had a growth of 9% between January and October, while Toyota and Kia sales increased by 23% and 35% respectively, compared with the previous year.
The statistics were provided by the Automobile Dealers Association of Panama, which reported that in October alone 7,054 cars were sold, mainly due to the Panama Motor Show being held which involved about 30 car distributors.
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.