Argentina government opens zero‑tariff import quota for hybrid and electric cars

The Argentine government, through the Dirección Nacional de Gestión de Política Industrial, issued Disposición 340/2026 in the Official Gazette to reassign the remaining portion of the 2025 zero‑tariff import quota for hybrid and electric vehicles. The new allocation concerns 865 units that were not used from the original 50,000‑vehicle limit, with each vehicle valued at up to US$16,000 FOB.

Companies and importers must submit their applications electronically by 23:59 on 7 August 2026. Assigned quotas must be utilized before 31 December 2026, and beneficiaries may renounce a quota without penalty until 30 September 2026. Allocation priority is based first on the earliest planned nationalisation date, then on the lowest declared public‑sale price, with preference given to firms that complied with previous calls and penalties for those that used extensions.

The measure seeks to broaden the supply of electrified vehicles, increase competition and accelerate technology adoption, while industry observers warn that greater import openness could pressure domestic manufacturers and parts suppliers. Recent data show a shift in the Argentine market, with imported cars now representing roughly two‑thirds of sales, up from a majority of domestically produced vehicles in 2023.