The projection is to produce 22,000 vehicles and generate 750 jobs and greater production of auto parts, a sector that must face the cessation of assembly by General Motors.
The Ecuadorian automotive industry is moving and announcing new investments and models to be assembled until 2026. This, after a meeting between directors of Kia Ecuador, Aymesa - which assembles models of the South Korean brands Kia and Hyundai -, representatives of auto parts companies and the Chamber of the Ecuadorian Automotive Industry (Cinae), with the Vice Minister of Production, Fernando Pérez.
During the meeting, which was held at Kia Ecuador's headquarters in Quito, they addressed how to design, develop and implement future strategies for business continuity, such as developing local auto parts to promote national production of vehicles, in addition to promoting investment, technological transfers and job creation.
This, in a context in which the automotive industry will lose its main actor at the end of August with the closure of the General Motors OBB plant, which assembles Chevrolet vehicles, including the best-selling in Ecuador, the Chevrolet D pickup truck. -Max.
In Ecuador, GM has a 51% share of vehicles assembled by brands, according to the latest figures published by Cinae.
Last April, when GM announced the cessation of assembly operations in Ecuador (GM OBB) and in Colombia (Colmotores), GM explained that it was due to a transition towards a model of national vehicle marketing and after-sales service companies, in order to support the launch of next-generation vehicles, including a world-class portfolio, backed by exceptional customer experience and after-sales services.
According to the Cinae report, the brand's assembled vehicles currently represent 42% of Chevrolet's portfolio in the country, while 58% are imported models.
For its part, Aymesa projects an estimated investment of more than US$62 million, an amount with which it is expected to generate productive chains and promote the national production of auto parts and vehicles.
The objective is to optimize the productivity and competitiveness of the sector, with an estimated production of more than 22,000 units and to assemble five new models until 2026.
According to the latest Cinae report, after GM OBB (51%), the brands with the highest share of vehicles assembled in Ecuador, with 23.4%, are the Chinese Great Wall, Shineray and KYC, which are assembled in the Ciauto plant. The models assembled in Ecuador of these brands represent 46% of their portfolio in the Ecuadorian market.
They are followed by Kia, with 19.4%, and Hyundai, with 6.1%, which are assembled at Aymesa. The two brands' locally assembled models represent 20% and 18%, respectively, of their portfolio.
In total, nine models from six different brands are assembled in Ecuador.
Meanwhile, with this comprehensive plan for growth in production and investment, the auto parts segment is projected to have a turnover of approximately US$ 50 million in 2026.
“The decision to increase investment in the Aymesa plant aims to promote the economic and social development of the country, in addition to offering quality and high-performance vehicles to customers.
Through a holistic strategy, Kia and Aymesa seek not only to increase production capacity, but also to attract more foreign investment, promote technology transfer and generate more than 750 new jobs,” Kia and Aymesa highlighted in a statement.
In addition, Aymesa indicated that it will focus on optimizing its production processes, seeking to reduce environmental impact and promote energy efficiency in its operations. While Vice Minister Pérez expressed the Government's full support for this initiative, and being part of the construction of new development strategies for the sector.
