IN July this year 10,826 new vehicles were sold, it is in the records of the Tax Administration (SRI). This one means a drop of 7% compared to sales for the same month in 2022that is, they were placed on the market 749 cars less.

Sales were “especially affected by political uncertainty, as the proximity of the presidential election affected” marketing “in Quito, where an important part of the workforce is in the public sector,” according to the newsletter of the Association of Automobile Companies of Ecuador (Aeade).

The decline is greatest in the sale of light vehicles (including cars, SUVs and trucks) used by private individuals. Their commercialization fell by 8% last July compared to July 2022.

Last month there were contractions in all segments: cars (-6%), SUVs (-12%) and trucks (pick-ups) by -13%,” the union said in a statement.

While the sale of commercial vehicles had a growth of 4% compared to the sale in July of the previous year.

“Although truck sales fell by -4%, passenger vehicles maintained steady growth: buses grew by 16% and VANs (vans) by 20%.”

However, its total weight per unit is small, which is why it was not enough to avoid a decrease in general monthly sales, which includes those for private and commercial use.

The total number of vehicles sold from January to July this year is 80,855, which is an increase of 8.1% compared to the vehicles sold in the same period in 2022, which were 74,794.

Despite last July’s decline, total sales for 2023 are already higher than pre-pandemic levels, Aeade said. In the period January-July 2019, a total of 76,766 vehicles were sold.

Early presidential and parliamentary elections will be held on August 20.