As a result of the emergency that Costa Rica is going through due to the spread of the coronavirus, Bridgestone announced that it will temporarily close its industrial plant located in Belen, Heredia.
The company announced that its plant will remain inactive from March 26 to April 12 and that none of the 1,000 employees working on the premises will be dismissed.
The Costa Rican Institute on Drugs tenders the supply of double cab and SUV pick up vehicles.
Costa Rican Government Purchase 2020LN-000001-0008800001:
"Details of the required vehicles:
-12 pick ups, 4x4 double cabin with mechanical protection in the engine. Four cylinder diesel engine, 16 valves and engine immobilizer system. Minimum cylinder capacity of 2800 cc (rounded value).
Retail sales in the automotive sector in Central America are predicted to be significantly affected by the covid-19 crisis, which would be partially explained by the drop in tire sales.
The "Information System for the Impact Analysis of covid-19 on Business", prepared by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, measures the degree of impact that the crisis will have on companies according to their sector or economic activity, during the coming months.
It is estimated that at the end of 2019, 23% of the motorcycles circulating nationally were of the brands Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Vento and Bajaj.
The report 'Vehicle fleet in Mexico 2019', from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, provides details on the characteristics of different vehicles that travel through the streets of the Mexican states.
From January to September 2019, companies in the region bought new tires abroad for $340 million, 5% more than in the same period in 2018, with Nicaragua and Panama being the markets that increased imports the most.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
After 198,000 motorcycles were sold in the country in 2019, local businessmen forecast that during 2020 the number of units sold could increase between 12% and 17%.
Data from the Association of Motorcycle Importers (Asim) indicate that on average 16,500 motorcycles are sold in the Guatemalan market per month, but only in February 2020 sales exceeded 19,000 units.
As of September 2019, imports of vehicle parts into the Costa Rican market totaled approximately $46 million, and purchases from U.S. companies increased 5% over the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
During the first month of the year, 3,487 luxury vehicles were sold in Panama, a figure 5% higher than that reported for the same period in 2019.
According to the most recent report of the General Comptroller of the Republic, between January 2019 and the same period in 2020, in general the number of units registered in the country increased from 3,324 to 3,487.
Although in 2019 worldwide vehicle sales fell by 3 million units, in Guatemala distributors project that this year local sales could grow between 5% and 10%.
According to Fitch Ratings risk data, at the end of last year reported a significant drop in vehicle sales globally, a decline that was induced by the contraction of the Chinese market.
As of September 2019, imports of vehicle parts into the Panamanian market totaled approximately $184 million, and purchases from Mexican companies increased 17% over the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
The business group Excel Automotriz opened a new service center of 7,600 square meters, which is located in zone 10 of the country's capital.
Company representatives reported that the facility has exhibition space, offices, workshop, sales area for new vehicles and spare parts, and a parking lot with capacity for more than 30 cars.
At the end of 2019, 32% of the vehicles circulating on the streets of Central America were of the brands Toyota, Nissan and Hyundai, while Honda, Suzuki, Kia, Isuzu, Mazda and Ford shared 25% of the total.
The report "Vehicles in Central America", from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData collects the most updated information on the automotive market in Central American countries.
In the Dominican Republic, the supply of different types of vehicles to be used in the toll stations and the plan for road protection and assistance on the roads is being tendered.
Dominican Republic Government purchase FIDEICOMISO-CCC-LPN-2020-0002:
"Lines to be contracted:
-25 vans 2020 onwards, for 5 passengers, 7-speed automatic transmission onwards, 4WD traction and with 2,500 cc turbo diesel engine.
Because the transportation services provided by platforms like Uber cause people to increasingly question whether or not they need to buy a vehicle, vehicle dealers must face new challenges to keep up with sales.
Between January and September 2019, imports of vehicle parts into the country totaled nearly $240 million, and 34% were purchased from companies in China and Japan.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]