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Most people interested to enhance their car’s capabilities or looks are generally people with older cars or that belong to a specific club of either vintage cars, WV beetles or that are interested to race their cars at the track or on the streets at off times at night. Retail sale of this products is done through small shops “auto boutiques”, as well as car dealerships. Small retailers selling general auto parts generally don’t sell specialty parts and vice versa.
In Costa Rica, local companies purchase directly from manufacturers, and from distributors; an estimate of 80% f is for styling, and 20% for performance. Some of the popular products sold in Costa Rica are are: Magnaflow, Rancho, MSD, KYN, Auto Meter, AEM, Meguiars, Torco, Flowmaster, CP pistons, Cometic Gasket, Nitto, Mickey Thompson, Aeromotive, Nos, Holley, NX, ACT clutch. Automotive accessories is a niche market in Costa Rica.
Used and Remanufactured Market
The number of cars in Costa Rica has more than doubled since 2005 to an estimated 1,800,000 cars. The average age of a Costa Rican car is 16 years with 2001 models.
Some of the cars on Costa Rican roads are imported as “used” from the United States, as they have extras that are not standard in new cars found in Costa Rica, as well as a lower price tag. This trend is decreasing due to good promotion of new vehicles and better support from the local banking system with financing for new cars. The automobile 10-day fair, Expo Auto, organized by the Chamber of New Car Importers (AIVEMA), has been very successful in past years helping new car dealers do a lot of business in one place.
There are no quotas or limitations, nor special treatment or conditions on remanufactured, rebuilt, and/or used moto vehicle parts in Costa Rica. There is a very strong preference for new automotive parts, although some end-users may purchase used or remanufactured parts because of the price difference factor. Remanufactured/rebuilt parts are not considered to be either new or used, but are distinguished to be a third category. Between the remanufactured/rebuilt parts and the used parts, the preference in Costa Rica seems to be for the remanufactured/rebuilt pars. Again, new parts are preferred and trusted as first chose over all other options.
For More Information about exporting to Costa Rica contact:
Roy Fernandez
Commercial Specialist - Global Auto & Smart Mobility Team
U.S. Embassy San Jose, Costa Rica
(506) 2519-2263
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