In Guatemala, transporters are asking to postpone the entry into force of the rule that establishes that vehicles of 3.5 tons and 12 passengers and above must install a device that will report the speed at which they circulate.
The regulation in Governmental Agreement 38-2019, published in April of this year, establishes that as of November 14 heavy transport units must carry a device that will have the function of measuring the speed at which vehicles travel, which must not exceed 80 kilometers per hour.
In Guatemala the total import value of new tires fell from $132 million in 2015 to $130 million in 2016, and within that total, imports from China grew by 10%.
Figures from the information system on the New Neumatic Tire Market in Guatemala, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
Since 2010, the number of motorcycles in El Salvador grew by 150%, while the entire vehicle fleet as a whole grew by 30% in five years.
Motorcycles are the type of vehicle that is increasing more than any other on the streets of El Salvador. According to the Directorate of Public Registry of Motor Vehicles at the Vice Ministry of Transportation (VMT), the number of motorcycles or scooters reached 171,283 in 2015, which is 152.5% more than in 2010.
A proposal has been made to develop a specialized Roll on-Roll off cargo terminal in the Pacific, to improve the management of vehicles and heavy equipment and create other opportunities for the automotive industry, such as automobile accessorization.
The proposal put forward by the Panama Canal Authority is to develop a specialized docking area for roll on- roll off ships, transporting vehicles to Panama, from where they are distributed to other markets. The aim is to promote the development of this type of cargo in Panama and lay the foundation for the development of other business lines that generate added value and chains. One of the activities that can be developed is dedicated to adding value to vehicles, called "accessorization".
The private sector is describing as illegal a new municipal tax on vehicles distributing goods in Colon, which ranges from between $15 and $100 depending on the commercial sector.
The measure was opposed by the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama, who argues that it could be replicated by other municipalities, hurting business. However, city officials say the tax has a legal basis.
Around 10,000 vehicles are used by 28 companies engaged in car rental in Panama, a business which generates about $77 million a year.
Between international and local franchises, the vast majority of companies engaged in the car rental business are established in the capital and state that their customers are 50% foreigners visiting the country for tourism and 50% nationals.
The country's economic growth is attracting new companies looking for space in a market that expects to sell over 15,000 new cars in 2014.
Automotive companies are planning significant investments in order to meet demand from Nicaraguan customers. Grupo Q will invest $12 million in 2014 mainly in infrastructure.
The Nicaraguan Association of Motor Vehicle Dealers (Andiva) has stated that "the goal is 15,225 units this year in sales from the distributors that make up the Nicaraguan Association of Motor Vehicle Dealers (Andiva)."
Increased demand and easier financing facilities provided by the motorcycle distributors are driving sales in an increasingly competitive market.
The motorcycle market in Costa Rica has added new participants in the last three years, during which imports of these vehicles went up by 30%.
During 2014, "the Directorate General of Customs, at the Ministry of Finance registered the import of 39,475 motorcycles, just 13% less than what was purchased in 2008, before the global economic recession started and one of the peak sales moments in this market."
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.
In Guatemala Grupo Tomza has launched a plan to convert gasoline engines to use propane gas, at an average cost of $1,000.
The company recently made a presentation of the project in which it will invest $90,000.
"All investments are welcome in this country, because things like this will help family economies and contribute to the environment. This plan is important because energy prices often hit Guatemalans hard," said the president, Otto Perez Molina.
The fall in the number of imported used vehicles has continued in the first five months of this year, falling by 40% compared to the same period in 2012.
According to data provided by the Ministry of Finance, the reduction was seen mainly in cars and a little less on vehicles used to transport goods. As for the import of new cars, they were also reduced, going from 17,306 in the first five months of 2012 to 16,425 in the same period in 2013, a reduction of 5%.
The growth in the last three years is mainly due to easier credit by local banks and the economic growth that the country has been experiencing.
Data from the Transit and Transportation Authority (ATTT) reveals that in 2010 there were 550,000 cars circulating in Panama, while so far in 2013 the number has increased to 900,000, ie, in just three years over 350 thousand automobiles have been added to Panama's roads.
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.
Dunbar from Guatemala , Brinks from the U.S., and national CIS CORP, are the three companies that are responsible for transporting valuable goods between banks, businesses and shops.
"The transport of valuable goods as such is like a taxi service, but for valuable goods, nowadays the conveyors are a logistics solution for money. We handle banks treasuries, ATMs (automated teller machines), we also handle liquidation of routes, we do transport, and take custody of vaults ," said an executive of the company Dunbar, who did not reveal his identity.
The year 2012 closed with about 13 000 new cars having been sold, 25% more than in 2011.
Laprensa.com.ni reports that "The sale of new cars reached a new record in Nicaragua. Up to 31st October 11.163 car sales were reported, according to the Nicaraguan Association of Motor Vehicle Dealers (Andiva ). This is superior to anything sold in 2011, and even exceeds the sales of the best year on record: 2008 when 10.545 units were sold.