Venezuela’s ministry of light industries and commerce said a few days ago it would demand import licences be obtained for every vehicle imported CBU (completely-built-up, ie assembled) into the country, a move that has Colombia’s assemblers concerned.
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Some automakers import CKD kits into Colombia, ‘add value’ in the form of local components and assembly labour, and some export some of their finished vehicles to neighbouring South American countries, including Venezuela.
“This is a red tape measure that menaces the Andean automotive agreement because it is, in practice, a barrier to free commerce”, the Colombian assemblers said.
Venezuela said the protectionist measure would begin on 1 January and that the import licence system would “be necessary to get the dollars to pay for the vehicles to be imported”.
In the face of poiibly curtailed exports, Colombian assemblers are trying to finish 2007 as well as possible and new model launches continue at a brisk pace.
October’s vehicle launches were the Mitsubishi Lancer Avanzado (the redesigned sedan being rolled out worldwide this year), Subaru Impreza (also a full redesign and a switch from four-door sedan to five-door hatchback), a facelift for VW’s Touareg SUV, the Toyota Fortuner and Peugeot’s new 207.
Renault also launched a ‘face-lifted’ Logan and Mazda its new 2 (Demio) hatchback while GM unveiled two new consumer-oriented websites: michevrolet.com, with aftersales and advertising campaign information plus porsiemprechevrolet.com.co dedicated to classic Chevrolet models.
Kia announced a 100,000km (60,000-mile)/five year warranty on all models and, two weeks later, Subaru counterattacked with 150,000km/five years. Both followed Kia parent Hyundai which had launched a 100,000km/five year warranty – for some models only – earlier in the year.
According to statistics firm Econotmetría, October new vehicle sales rose 31.9% year on year to 22,489 units. However there was more gloom for the car makers: mid-size and heavy trucks were the fastest growing segment, up 51.2%.
Econotmetría also said the strongest growth year over year was posted by Chinese brands Hafei (335.5%) and Chana (154.2%) while market share leaders remained GM (37.2%), Renault (15.4%), Hyundai (10.5%), Mazda (5.5%) and Toyota (4.2%).
Juan Vargas
