Chinese cars in Chile: which brands sell there and since when

Chile is one of the most open markets in the Americas for Chinese cars, and one where they now lead. Chile has no domestic car industry and a free-trade agreement with China that entered into force on 1 October 2006; products originating in China enter free of customs duties, apart from about 2 percent of products on the agreement's exclusion list, a position complete since 1 January 2015. Supplementary agreements cover services, in force from August 2010, and investment, in force from 8 February 2014, and a modernisation protocol was signed on 11 November 2017.

The National Automotive Association of Chile reported that for January to May 2026 Chinese brands accounted for 37.1 percent of the market by brand origin, and that 48.1 percent of all vehicles sold in Chile were manufactured in China. The share has climbed steadily: 7.1 percent in 2021, 32.4 percent in 2025 and 37.1 percent in the opening months of 2026. These figures exclude hybrid and electric vehicles, which ANAC counts in a separate report.

GWM led the Chinese brands over January to May 2026 with 6,666 units, sixth overall, split between SUVs, where the Jolion was the seventh best-selling SUV of the year on 1,857 units, and pick-ups, where the Poer was the country's second best-selling pick-up on 3,371 units. Changan followed on 5,696 units and ninth overall, fourth in SUVs on 4,230, with the X7 Plus and Hunter carrying much of its volume. MG, part of China's SAIC group, took 4,717 units and eleventh place, the MG ZX being the second best-selling SUV of the year on 2,432 units. Chery was thirteenth on 3,564 units, concentrated in SUVs, where the Tiggo 2 was third in segment on 2,183. Jetour reached 2,858 units, Omoda and Jaecoo together 2,573, and Geely 2,412. BYD recorded 950 units in the combustion market covered by that report.