The transition to electric mobility: opportunities for the automotive value chain in Argentina

Abstract

The current transition from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles opens windows of opportunity for the repositioning of firms and countries in global and regional automotive value chains. The objective of this paper is to study these opportunities posed for the automotive chain in Argentina. The main results show that Argentina lags behind in the production and diffusion of electric vehicles and has a low deployment of the charging infrastructure. However, this transition would be an opportunity for Argentina to reposition itself in the regional automotive value chains; and its growing specialisation in pickups could position it in the nascent electric pickup market, without large, consolidated players. At the same time, there are opportunities to increase the national integration of parts and components of the electric powertrain and reduce the high incidence of imports of auto parts.