Expo Auto Chino, Argentina’s first motor show devoted to the Chinese auto industry, opened at Costa Salguero in Buenos Aires on October 2, 2026, and is scheduled to run through Sunday. The event featured new models going on sale and vehicles expected to reach the local market in coming months. The review describes a well-organized show held just as Argentina’s market rules were changing.
Measures announced by the national government during the preceding week, including benefits intended to encourage Tesla’s arrival, had altered the outlook for imported vehicles. The review cites new FOB-value thresholds of US$18,000 for plug-in hybrids and US$35,000 for battery-electric vehicles, and suggests the 2027 edition could look substantially different. Its advice is that buying now may make sense for those who need a car, while waiting could bring new products and market conditions.
Chinese pickups were plentiful, but the reviewer saw many as exploratory offerings rather than models ready for high-volume sales, particularly because of their powertrains. BYD did not attend, leaving its Shark pickup absent. Other gaps included small urban vans, although Chinese heavy-truck maker Shacman represented the long-haul segment. Among the show’s technology and premium standouts were BAIC’s Stelato, with a 35-inch retractable rear display, and Jetour’s G700.
The review also highlights the Soueast 06, plug-in hybrid models from Deepal, and Kaiyi’s higher-end lineup. It contrasts BYD’s direct local subsidiary with Chery Group’s network of importers and notes that Omoda & Jaecoo’s arrival accompanies talk of a possible Argentine industrial project. The author stresses that importer backing, parts supply and after-sales support matter alongside vehicle choice.