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Chinese Carmakers Gain Ground in Latin America as BYD Ranks Sixth in Mexico and Argentina Sales Quadruple

Policy shifts are reshaping competition across Mexico and Argentina.

Overview

  • BYD sold 75,157 vehicles in Mexico in 2025, up 18.6%, becoming the sixth-largest automaker by sales and surpassing Ford, Honda and Suzuki.
  • Across the eight Chinese-origin brands reporting to INEGI, Mexico sales fell 4.1% to 119,092 units for a 7.8% share of a 1,524,583-unit light-vehicle market.
  • In Argentina, Chinese brands exceeded 12,000 registrations in 2025—about four times 2024—with BAIC, Haval, JAC and BYD leading the surge.
  • Argentina’s Decreto 49/2025 opened a five-year, 50,000-unit duty-free quota for EVs and hybrids with FOB prices up to US$16,000, boosting Chinese entrants as BEV registrations more than doubled to 1,279 with BYD leading the segment.
  • Trade measures are tightening conditions as the U.S. imposed a 15% tariff on Mexican vehicles that miss USMCA rules and Mexico announced 10%–50% tariffs on imports from countries without trade agreements.