Overview
- The government published Resolución 438/2026 and Decreto 1128/2026 in the Boletín Oficial on Friday, October 30, 2026, formally changing how the annual 50,000-unit arancel‑cero quota is allocated.
- The 50,000 units remain split 25,000 for automakers based in Argentina and 25,000 for non‑resident companies but unused units may be reserved or reassigned between the two categories.
- Decreto 1128/2026 raises and differentiates maximum FOB ceilings by propulsion so pure electric vehicles qualify up to US$35,000, conventional and plug‑in hybrids up to US$18,000, and mild hybrids up to US$16,000.
- Resolución 438/2026 removes the explicit ‘con producción’ requirement for domestic terminales and lets each convocatoria set the weight of factors such as price, nationalization timing, sales track record, homologation, registrations and investments in charging infrastructure.
- Practical market effects will depend on how the first convocatorias are designed because authorities can impose per‑company and per‑model caps, separate calls by category, and other rules that may advantage well‑capitalized importers or firms investing in charging and technology while consumers will still face higher retail prices above FOB due to taxes and transport.