The national vehicle fleet continues to age. It was identified that, by the end of 2024, the average age of cars in Argentina reached 14.3 years, surpassing the 2023 record (14.1 years). This confirms the trend towards preserving old vehicles. To illustrate, in 2019 the average age was 11.7 years.
These data come from the recent report “Circulating Vehicle Fleet 2024”, published by the Argentine Association of Component Manufacturers (AFAC).
Cars are getting older and more polluting
A total of 15,552,418 vehicles circulate in Argentina, that is, one car per every three inhabitants. The study estimates that to maintain the current average age, 1,100,000 new vehicles should be incorporated into the vehicle fleet this year. Given the low probability of this scenario, it is expected that vehicle aging will deepen.
“The vehicle fleet has a dual nature in which two well-differentiated segments of average ages coexist with a relatively modern and an old fleet. The circulating fleet up to 20 years old consisted of 11.5 million vehicles (in 2023 it had been 11.4 million vehicles),” AFAC indicates in the report.
The increasing circulation of older cars on the streets raises alarms due to the polluting impact. The use of fossil fuels in cars not only releases toxic gases into the atmosphere but also releases different Greenhouse Gases (GHGs), which are the main contributors to global warming.
According to the Ministry of Energy, 13.3% of GHG emissions in Argentina are generated by the transportation sector. Half of the emissions are due to light vehicles.
Many of the old models do not have modern exhaust gas treatment systems, emitting more pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and unburned hydrocarbons (HC).
Electric cars increase, but not enough
Electric cars are an option that allows for greater energy efficiency, reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Although the market for these vehicles (hybrids and electric) increased compared to 2023, it still does not have a significant impact on the total numbers.
The AFAC study reveals that vehicles with hybrid engines (gasoline/electric) in 2024 increased their participation by 69% (compared to the previous year) reaching 46,657 units. Meanwhile, vehicles with some type of electrification went from 1,100 to 1,555 units. Despite these increases, they represent only 0.31% of the current vehicle fleet in Argentina.
According to the consulting firm GIPA, the current average age of vehicles in Latin America is 12.9 years. In the continent, Mexico has the oldest fleet of cars, with an average of 16 years.
Vehicle concentration
The AFAC report also shows vehicle concentration levels in large urban centers. 46.7% of the 2024 car fleet was concentrated in the province of Buenos Aires and CABA. While the provinces of Córdoba, Santa Fe, and Mendoza, together, represented 23.5% of the total vehicle fleet.
