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Argentina's used car market dips 5% but remains key to ownership
🇦🇷 Argentina /Economy & Trade

Argentina's used car market dips 5% but remains key to ownership

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • Argentina's used car market saw a 5% year-on-year decline in sales between January and May 2026, with 736,136 vehicles sold.
  • Despite the drop, used cars remain the primary entry point to car ownership, accounting for about 80% of market operations.
  • The Peugeot 208 was the most sought-after used car on the Kavak platform in the second half of 2025, followed by the Toyota Etios and Fiat Cronos.

Argentina's automotive market continues to be driven by used car sales, which accounted for 736,136 transactions between January and May 2026. This figure represents a 5% decrease compared to the previous year, according to the Chamber of Automotive Commerce (CCA).

The sale of used cars continues to be the great engine of the automotive market in Argentina.

— Article TextIntroduction to the article discussing the used car market.

Despite the contraction, the used car segment remains the main gateway to car ownership for many Argentinians, making up nearly eight out of every ten market operations. A report by Kavak, a company specializing in used car transactions, highlights key market trends, including the most desired models and preferred configurations.

The Peugeot 208 was the most sought-after used car on the platform during the second half of last year.

— Article TextHighlighting the most popular used car model.

During the second half of 2025, the Peugeot 208 emerged as the top-selling used car on Kavak's platform. It was closely followed by the Toyota Etios and the Fiat Cronos. Other popular models included the Renault Sandero, Ford EcoSport, and Ford Ka. These vehicles are in high demand due to their strong resale value, stemming from good performance as new cars and quick turnover in the second-hand market. Their reliability and the availability of parts also contribute to their popularity among buyers seeking value and good condition.

Compact cars and those with accessible maintenance continue to lead market preferences, although there is also strong demand for SUVs and pickups.

— Article TextDescribing the preferred car types.

Hatchbacks remain the preferred body style, making up 48% of purchases, followed by sedans (22%) and SUVs (19%). While compact, low-maintenance cars lead preferences, there is also significant demand for SUVs and pickups. The report also noted a growing diversity in buyers, with women representing 44% of Kavak's customers in the latter half of 2025. Manual transmissions continue to dominate, with 69% of cars sold featuring this option.

Women represented 44% of the purchases in the report.

— Article TextDetailing the changing profile of car buyers.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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