China's Changan Automobile officially began operations in Argentina this week with the launch of two SUV models in the city of San Isidro, according to local reports.
Changan has partnered with a leading local dealer, Car One Group, and has high hopes of developing a significant presence in a market it expects will grow significantly in the long term. The two SUVs launched are the CS15 and CS75 models.
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Changan is the latest in a growing list of Chinese brands that have entered the Argentine vehicle market in the last few years, which also includes JAC Motors, Geely, Great Wall, BAIC, Chery, Lifan, Haval, DFSK, Foton, and JMC.
Ban Shenzhen, Changan's director for the Americas region, told reporters: "Argentina will increase in volume in the long term and that's why we are entering the market now with our products".
Changan's overseas sales rose by 53% to 41,000 units last year, helped by assembly plants in Russia, Vietnam and Egypt. It expects this figure to increase to 44,000 units in 2018.
One of Changan main overseas markets is neighbouring Chile, where it has had a presence in Chile since 2008. It sold around 14,000 vehicles in this market last year.
Argentina's vehicle market has shown volatility in recent years as its economy has been hit by periodic financial crises.
