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36 February 2019 | AutoData MARKETS » LATIN AMERICA Americans bought no less than 74,4% of all vehicles with the Made in Mexico stamp destined to the foreign market. The Latin American countries, toge- ther, received 288 thousand Mexican vehi- cles in 2018, an increase of 20% compared to 2017 and share of 8,3% in the total cake. Brazil, alone, went from fifth to fourth largest destination of Mexican vehicles in 2018: the country bought 78,4 thousand units, a significant increase of 60% when the volume is compared to the one re- ceived in 2017, although the market share in the total Mexico’s automotive exports remained modest, at 2.3%. CHI CHI CHI LE LE LE Vehicle sales in Chile reached a new record in 2018: 417 thousand 38 units, up 15,6% compared to the previous year. The numbers were released by Anac, Asocia- ción Nacional Automotriz de Chile (Natio- nal Automotive Association of Chile), and consider only light vehicles, not including trucks and buses. The Chevrolet brandwas the segment’s sales leader with 36 thousand 016 units, followed by Suzuki, which sold 33 thou- sand 328 vehicles, and Hyundai, which was in third place with 32 thousand 710. Kia has got the fourth place, which sold 32 thousand 432 units, and the fifth post to Nissan, with 30 thousand 535 units. The forefront belongs to a pickup truck in the list of best-selling models in Chile, the Mitsubishi L200, with 10 thousand 600 plates. It is followed by the Chevrolet Sail with 10,3 thousand, Kia Rio, 9,5 thousand, and Kia Morning, 8,7 thousand. Toyota Hi- lux, with 8,6 thousand, closes the top five. COLOMBIA The Colombian market had in Decem- ber its best month of 2018, with 33,1 thou- sand units, a 30% increase compared to the same month of 2017, 25,4 thousand. And with that, the year closed with 256,7 thousand plates, a good advance of 7,7% against the 238,2 thousand in the previous year. The data was revealed by Andemos, Asociación Nacional de Movilidad Soste- nible (National Association of Sustainable Mobility). As in Brazil and Chile, General Motors was the market leader with 49,9 thousand units. The result, however, was 2,6% lower than in 2017. Meanwhile, Renault, at a 6% growth in the same comparison, appro- ached it closely, only two hundred units behind with 49,7 thousand. Nissan closed the Colombian brands podium with 23,2 thousand sales, an increase of 10%. By models, the favorite in 2018 was Chevrolet Spark, with 13,4 thousand mo- dels sold. Renault Logan, with 12 thousand , followed by another Renault, Sandero, with 11,8 thousand, Kia Picanto, 11,2 thou- sand, and another Renault – this way, with three models in the top five list – Stepway, with 9,5 thousand units sold. The models with national production dominated the Colombian market last CALL THE TOW TRUCK Brazilian Volkswagen trucks disembark in Bolivia for official use in tow services and mechanical rescue: a well-taken business opportunity.