Argentina’s Car Sales Tumbled 12% in 2012

Automakers delivered 596,400 passenger cars to dealers in Argentina last year compared with 673,900 units in 2011, according to carmaker group ADEFA.

The country's wholesale demand for motor vehicles, including SUVs and trucks, fell 6% year over year to 830,100 units in 2012. SUV volume jumped 17% to 200,400 units. Truck sales dropped 12% to 33,200 units.

Argentina's December sales shrank 7% year over year to 60,500 units for cars but climbed 7% to 88,300 units for all motor vehicles.

Passenger-car production in the country last year slid 14% from 2011 to 497,400 units despite December's 34% surge to 42,100 units, ADEFA reports. Total motor vehicle production declined 8% to 764,500 vehicles in 2012.

Vehicle exports from Argentina dropped 18% to 413,500 units. Brazil remained the country's largest export market, accounting for 82% of auto shipments last year.