January 30, 2025

 

LAST YEAR ENDED WITH NEARLY 20,000 NEW REGISTERED UNITS, DOUBLING ALL CATEGORIES COMPARED TO 2023

With historic figures, 2024 closed in terms of sales of new energy vehicles (formerly referred to as zero and low-emission vehicles), totaling 19,101 registered units, representing a 104.6% increase compared to 2023.

“2024 was the best year in Chile for each category of zero or low-emission vehicles, doubling sales in all cases compared to what was achieved in 2023,” highlights Diego Mendoza, Secretary General of ANAC, who describes these figures as “positive news because it happened in a year of decline in the general automotive market.”

Although the numbers are still far from those of internal combustion vehicle sales, the combustion engine market closed December with an annual drop of 3.7% (more than 300,000 units).

Several factors have driven this growth. Gustavo Hunter, head of ANAC’s Sustainable Mobility Department, points out that, in the category of plug-in electrified vehicles, sales to private individuals increased. In 2023, only 27% of sales were to individuals, with the majority going to companies and organizations. Last year, “over 56% of electric vehicle sales were to individuals—families who adopted this technology. We believe this trend shift will continue in the coming years,” he details.

Likewise, self-charging hybrid vehicles accounted for the majority of sales because “they serve as an entry-level technology that many people adopt as a first step toward electrification,” according to Hunter. Other markets have shown that, after experiencing their efficiency and performance, users transition to a PHEV (plug-in hybrid) or a 100% electric vehicle.

The increase in available models has also played a role. Today, “about 50 brands offer electrified vehicles, and out of the 340 models available in total, prices have also dropped. The cheapest one is now around $12 million CLP, which was unheard of before and has been driven by the entry of new brands,” states Luis Gutiérrez, an academic at the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences and a researcher at the Center for Energy Transition (Centra) at Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez (UAI).

TOWARD 2035

Despite the upward trend, ANAC doubts whether the government’s goal will be achieved: by 2035, 100% of sales of light, medium, and public transport vehicles, as well as large machinery, should be zero-emission.

Diego Mendoza estimates that “progress is being made, but slower than expected.” He adds, “The revised projection for 2025 is that only 3.5% of sales will be electric,” which is below the 5% target that the industry considers “pivotal for the mass adoption of electromobility.”

In public transportation, the electric bus market is not following the upward trend, with 304 units sold—a 78.7% annual decline. This is explained by the fact that in 2023 there was a significant incorporation of buses into the RED system. Meanwhile, the truck market recorded 118 units, marking a 227.8% annual increase.

Mendoza states that “it will depend on the Ministry of Transport’s bidding policies, but it seems likely that we will reach 100% electric public transport by 2035, though there are regional challenges to overcome.”

The UAI academic agrees, highlighting the progress in public transportation, “especially in the Metropolitan Region, where one-third of buses are already electric. In other sectors, more progress is needed, and if we truly want to reach the 100% sales goal by 2035, some incentives will be necessary,” he states.

NECESSARY INCENTIVES

In this regard, Gutiérrez explains that other countries have implemented incentives “that do not necessarily require fiscal spending, such as access to parking in high-demand areas or permission to use exclusive public transport lanes.”

Other incentives could include reductions in import taxes for these vehicles and lower prices for high-mileage, high-emission vehicles, such as taxis, ride-hailing services, and intercity buses. For the latter, Gutiérrez considers it essential to install more fast-charging stations, especially along Route 5.

“Although progress has been made, only 23% of charging points are fast chargers, which limits the adoption of electric intercity buses,” he explains.

Diego Mendoza from ANAC states that, for growth in the truck category, investment levels and business confidence in the country are crucial. “When greater economic growth resumes, the need for freight transport and corporate responsibility in reducing carbon footprints will push companies toward electrification,” he asserts.

Regarding light and medium-duty vehicles, Mendoza points out that different incentives will be needed for SMEs, companies, and organizations that rely heavily on vehicles, as well as for private individuals.

One positive factor, he highlights, is the installation of charging stations and electric recharging infrastructure in Chile, “with networks of ‘electrolineras’ (electric charging stations) or the conversion of traditional service stations into electric ones, a trend seen in developed markets that will soon become a reality in Chile.”