The percentage of people who test-drove and then bought is extremely high
Chinese automakers sold 140-150 Chery units and comparable Jetour volumes in Mendoza within months of launch, with test-drive conversion rates described as 'very high' by dealers. Hybrid vehicles dominate demand due to automatic electric-combustion switching, tax incentives (50% reduced registration in Mendoza), and financing up to 36 installments at zero interest rates.
- 140-150 Chery units sold in Mendoza within months of launch starting October 2025
- Jetour reached comparable sales volume within 30-40 days of arrival
- Tiggo 7 Mild Hybrid priced at $29,000; financing available up to 36 months at zero interest
- Hybrid vehicles pay 50% reduced registration in Mendoza, zero in San Juan
- Battery warranty covers 8 years; full replacement costs approximately $8,000
Chinese car brands Chery and Jetour are rapidly gaining market share in Mendoza province, driven by competitive pricing, hybrid technology, and strong financing options. A local dealer reports 140-150 Chery units sold in months, with hybrid models leading demand.
The streets of Mendoza are filling with Chinese cars, and the shift is happening faster than anyone expected. Fernando Ferrando, the commercial manager at SurMotors, sat down with Radio Post to explain what's driving the transformation: hybrid technology, aggressive pricing, and financing terms that traditional automakers can't match. When he started selling Chery vehicles last October, he moved between 140 and 150 units in just a few months. Jetour, which arrived about a month later, is already running neck and neck.
What surprised Ferrando most wasn't the initial marketing push—it was what happened when customers actually drove the cars. "The percentage of people who test-drove and then bought is extremely high," he said. Buyers came in attracted by the price tag, often starting around $23,000, but left impressed by details they didn't expect to find: double-sealed doors, insulated hoods, independent rear suspension. The quality of the interior materials, the smoothness of the ride—these things changed minds. Some customers had already seen these vehicles in Chile and came asking specifically for them. Word travels.
Hybrids are what everyone wants now. Ferrando was unequivocal about this. The systems work automatically, switching between electric and combustion engines without the driver thinking about it. Drive to Potrerillos and you're running on electricity for most of the trip. Hit the switchbacks and the gas engine kicks in when the car needs power. Pass through the tunnel and you're back to electric. Some models claim nearly 980 kilometers of combined range. The self-charging hybrids are especially popular because owners feel they don't have to do anything—the car charges itself when you brake, when you ease off the accelerator, even sitting at a red light. The plug-in versions offer a different appeal: after five or six hours of charging, you can drive entirely on electricity.
Charging at home is straightforward for plug-in models, though there are technical requirements. You need proper grounding and a ground rod installed. Without it, the charger won't work. A portable home charger exists as an alternative, but it can take up to ten hours to fully charge the battery. Fast chargers demand proper electrical infrastructure.
The question that still haunts buyers is whether they can actually service these cars and whether they'll be able to sell them later. Ferrando acknowledged the skepticism. But he pointed out that Chery has been in Argentina for twenty years and that his dealership is required to stock all necessary parts before selling any model. When a customer's window was smashed in a theft attempt, a replacement arrived in ten business days. The Grupo Corven import network backs the operation.
Pricing is aggressive. The popular Tiggo 7 Mild Hybrid sits at $29,000 on the lot, and the company is offering bonuses to grab market share. "We want to dominate the market and adapt to the situation," Ferrando said. Financing is where Chinese brands are really competing. Zero-interest loans up to 20 million pesos, zero-interest UVA-indexed loans up to 25 million, and payment plans stretching to 36 months. Depending on credit profile, some buyers can finance 80 or even 85 percent of the vehicle's cost.
Tax incentives sweeten the deal further. In Mendoza, hybrid vehicles pay half the registration fee. In San Juan, they pay nothing. The warranty is substantial: seven years or 150,000 kilometers for the engine, eight years for the battery. Battery life is calculated at roughly ten years, and while a full replacement currently costs around $8,000, Ferrando expects those prices to drop significantly as the technology matures and supply chains expand.
Citas Notables
The streets are filling with these cars. When people test-drive them and experience the quality, their perception changes completely.— Fernando Ferrando, SurMotors commercial manager
What sells most right now is hybrid. The automatic systems manage everything—electric on flat roads, combustion on hills, electric again in tunnels.— Fernando Ferrando, SurMotors commercial manager
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why are hybrids winning so decisively in Mendoza when they're more complex than regular gas cars?
Because they're automatic. The driver doesn't have to think about switching modes. The car manages the electric and gas engines on its own. You're not plugging anything in every night like you would with a pure electric. It just works.
But people still worry about repairs and resale, right?
They do. That's the real hesitation. But Chery has been here twenty years. The parts are in the warehouse before the car even hits the lot. When something breaks, it gets fixed.
What changed people's minds about Chinese quality?
They drove them. That's it. They came in for the price, sat in the car, felt the materials, heard how quiet it was. The soft-touch interior, the double-sealed doors—these aren't things you expect at that price point.
The financing sounds almost too good to be true.
It's competitive pressure. Chinese brands are trying to take market share from established manufacturers. Zero-interest loans, 36-month terms, financing up to 85 percent of the price—they're using every tool they have.
What about charging infrastructure? Can most people actually charge at home?
For plug-in hybrids, yes, but you need proper electrical grounding. Without it, the charger won't work. A portable charger exists but takes ten hours. It's not seamless yet.
So what happens in three or four years when these cars start aging?
That's the real test. The warranty is solid—eight years on batteries. But whether the resale market accepts them, whether parts stay available, whether service shops know how to fix them—that's still unknown.