There is no way to avoid them anymore! They’re everywhere. Maseratis? No, not those. I mean Chinese cars. They’re a true invasion force in South America, with Ecuador taking the cake. Not so very long ago – in 2015 to be exact – General Motors was by far the market leader here, with a market share of no less than 49 percent. Many of their vehicles were assembled locally, which also helped keep them affordable.
But due to Covid, rising wages and new free trade agreements with China and Europe, among other factors, their share has been melting away like snow in the sun, dropping to a scanty 18 percent last year. This means that the assembly site will be forced to close its doors next month.
So, no more Grand Vitaras and D-MAXs, as new brands like Chery, Changan, BAID, Great Wall, Jetour en Foton adorn the streets. New Chinese brands even seem to pop up by the month. Meanwhile, the first BYD dealerships have also opened their doors, although electric mobility is still very much in its infancy in Ecuador. After all, there is not even enough power to properly supply households and offices, let alone charging stations for vehicles.
