China's BYD expands South American footprint with Argentina EV launch

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) -China's largest carmaker BYD on Wednesday launched sales of its EVs in Argentina, taking advantage of the lifting of import tariffs for electric and hybrid vehicles and boosting its fast-growing footprint in South America. Chinese brands dominate this sector, and Argentina has said it expects imports of about 40,000 electric and hybrid vehicles to enter the country by the end of January. Normally, imported cars from brands that do not have manufacturing operations in Argentina or other members of South America's trade bloc Mercosur, which includes Brazil, pay a 35% tariff.