Chinese carmakers are gaining ground in Argentina as high-tech electric and hybrid vehicles enter the market at increasingly competitive prices, offering consumers more choices and helping reshape Latin America’s third-largest auto market.

The trend has accelerated since Argentina eased car import restrictions in January 2025, allowing up to 50,000 electric and hybrid vehicles to enter the country each year without import duties. The policy has helped bring down vehicle prices while encouraging greater interest in Chinese brands.

Buenos Aires recently hosted the country’s first Chinese car expo, showcasing a wide range of models and advanced technologies. Chinese brands, which arrived later in Argentina than in many other Latin American markets, are expected to capture about 10 percent of the market in 2026, up from 2 percent late last year.

The shift comes as domestic production and sales weaken, putting pressure on local automakers to adapt while giving consumers access to newer technologies.