02/03/2021 9:44 AM

• Clarín.com

• Cars

Updated 02/03/2021 9:44 AM

The used car market started the year with the handbrake on.

Unlike what happened in 2020, when despite the economic and health crisis it was the

life saver of the sector

, the rate of sales in the first month of the year closed down.

In contrast to the encouraging balance that 0 km cars had during January,

132,519 used vehicles

were sold in Argentina

, a decrease of 13.62% compared to the same month of 2020 (153,413 units), according to the Automotive Chamber of Commerce (CCA ).

If it is compared with the month of December 2020 (141,940 units) the fall was 6.64%.

The Volkswagen Gol was the most wanted used of 2020, and it was also in January.

The president of CCA, Alberto Príncipe, acknowledged that "January showed the ups and downs of the used car market. After a difficult year 2020, the last months of the year had shown a rebound in sales. But, reality shows us that we must be prudent with optimism. "

Príncipe remarked that the market continues to suffer from a

very worrying shortage of semi-new cars

.

And to the extent that the delivery of new cars does not normalize, this problem will continue to be suffered.

Regarding prices, the Chamber recognized that in January they had an

increase of 7%

.

Despite the drop in operations, from CCA they express mild optimism to the extent that sanitary conditions do not force the government to have to assume

a new quarantine

.

"We must work hard on the vehicle sales platforms and dedicate the greatest effort to these new modalities. And offer, as we are doing in this time of inflation, a reliable price list as a reference, vehicles with the corresponding guarantee and attention very personalized product, "said Príncipe.