In June, 1.102 new cars were brought into the country, whereas 2.364 were imported in June of last year, according to SAT data.
The drop, albeit minor, is also reflected in the import of used cars, being 9% less than in June 2008.
"8.366 cars were imported in the first half of 2009, 46.9% less than the same period of 2008, when 15.178 vehicles were brought into the country", indicated an elPeriodico.com.gt article.
In February 2009, 1,156 new cars were imported, a drop of 61.5% when compared to the 2,927 new cars imported in February 2008.
With regard to used vehicle imports, the decrease during the same period was 31.5% because 5,613 units were imported in February 2009 and there were 8,200 during the same period in 2008.
Nelson Escalante, a spokesman for the Used Vehicle Importers Union, told El Periódico of Guatemala, "The economic situation is tough and people are no longer saving to buy a car." He also indicated that if "the Congress of the Republic approves the establishment of the First Registration of Vehicles Tax (Iprima) to replace the current import tariff and surcharge with a rate of 26% on the estimated value of the vehicle, sales could drop between 50% and 60%, leaving about 150 thousand people out of business."
The drop in growth is at around 25% so far in 2008 in comparison to sales from last year.
In order to deal with the crisis, the members of the Salvadoran Used Vehicles Importers' Association is planning and working and new group sales policies.
"We do not see another formula that we can use to deal with the crisis other than to join forces and seek new markets (before taxes) for imported vehicles in other countries, especially Honduras and Nicaragua," said the president of the Association, Alejandro Mohor.
Sales of automobiles in Guatemala in the first four months of the year were 6.3 percent down on the same period of 2007, in tandem with a slowdown in the economy.
The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors said 10,910 units were sold from January through March, down from 11,645 in the 2007 period.
President Manuel Zelaya of Honduras announced measures to combat the increase in world oil prices. They include restrictions on vehicle imports.
Zelaya told business and labor leaders that the measures were needed in order to save energy and encourage production.
Imports of used vehicles and gas-guzzling new ones are to be restricted. Illuminated signs are to be cut off during electricity peaks, only power-saving light bulbs are to be used, and a mass propaganda campaign is to be launched to persuade the population of the need to conserve energy.