In September, registrations of new vehicles showed a 13% decrease compared to the same month in 2016, mainly explained by a 20% drop in the sale of automobiles.
Figures from the Comptroller General of the Republic show that between January and September, 4,301 new vehicles were registered, 13% less than the 5,083 units registered in the same period in 2016.
Grupo Q, Cofiño Stahl, Continental Motores, International de Guatemala and Changhe Motors have presented their proposals to sell 3,000 vehicles to the Guatemalan government.
In the tender launched by the Ministry of the Interior to supply 1,500 motorcycles, 1,300 pick-up trucks, 150 cars and 63 other vehicles, four companies took part, with the following proposals:
According to the guild of vehicle importers, the premium car and SUV segment accounts for about 15% of total sales.
Data from the Association of Importers of Vehicles and Machinery (Aivema), "... on imports and sales shows that the total number of premium cars and SUV's oscillates between 5% and 8% of the 36,000 new units that came into the country in 2017, but they represent 15% of sales.
Currently, the average engine size of new cars sold in Guatemala is 1,485 cc, while in 2011, the average size was around 1,625 cc.
Figures from CentralAmericaData's report entitled "Central American Vehicle Park" show that between 2011 and 2017, the average engine size of the vans sold in Guatemala was also reduced, as in 2011 average engine capacity was 2,962 cc, while in 2017 this figure is around 2,419 cc.
The business sector estimates that if the trend observed in the first semester is mantained, by the end of the year the overall sales will be 3,000 units below the sales of 2016.
The Superior Council of Private Enterprise (Cosep) estimates that in the first half of the year vehicle sales were 15% lower than those in the same period in 2016.According to the Cosep, last year 20 thousand vehicles were sold.
In December 2016, 20% of the vehicles circulating in the countries of the region were between 1 and 5 years old, and 19% between 6 and 10 years old.
Data from the report"Vehicle Fleet in Central America 2016" compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaDatashows the different characteristics of the vehicles circulating in Central American countries.
The dealers' association projects closing 2017 with a 10% drop in new vehicle sales compared to last year.
The figures for the first three months of the year have not been very encouraging for companies that import and sell new cars in the country, since during that period the number of new vehicles registered was 11% lower than in the first quarter of 2016.
Of the total number of vehicles circulating in the country in December 2016, 35% were automobiles, 31% motorcycles, 22% light-duty vehicles and 7% heavy load vehicles.
Figures from the report "Central American Vehicle Park", prepared by CentralAmericaData's Business Intelligence Unit, show that as of December 2016, 2.2 million vehicles were circulating in Guatemala, of which more than half were automobiles and motorcycles.
The distributors' association reports a reduction of almost 4% in new vehicle sales for the first quarter of the year compared to the same period in 2016.
Jean Pierre Devaux, executive director of the Association of Importers and Distributors of Motor Vehicles (Aidva), commented to S21.gt that between January and March of this year"...6 thousand 894 new units have been sold."
Of the total number of vehicles circulating in the country in January 2017, 61% corresponded to automobiles, 21% to motorcycles, 11% to light-duty vehicles and 3% to heavy loads.
Figures from the"Central American Vehicle Park"report, prepared by CentralAmericaData's Business Intelligence Unit, indicates that in January 2017, 1.5 million vehicles were circulating, of which more than half corresponded to automobiles.
The union of vehicle dealers reported that the brands Toyota, Hyundai and Kia led sales in the country, with 35,000 units sold in 2016.
Figures from the Association of Automobile Dealers in Panama (ADAP) indicate that these three brands are the most commonly traded in the country. Capital.com.pa indicates that the Toyota brand"... leads the list with 42,249 vehicles sold in the last three years. In 2014 14,223 cars were sold and although in 2015 there was a drop in sales (13,642) they rebounded in 2016 and 14,384 cars were sold."