As part of the Latam Mobility & Net Zero Cono Sur 2024, Andrés García, Director of Mobility at Invest in Latam, presented the second Sustainable Mobility Report of the country, showcasing the current state of the electric and low-emission vehicle market in Chile.
To begin, García highlighted the remarkable growth in electric vehicle sales in the country, though he warned that there is still a long way to go to meet the carbon neutrality goals set for 2035.
“Today, for every 100 vehicles sold in Chile, only two are electric, while internationally the average is one in 10. The challenge is to multiply this effort by 10 to reach global numbers,” he noted.
In this regard, the report revealed that cumulative electric vehicle sales in 2024 have doubled compared to 2023, with a 2.4-fold increase in pure electric vehicles and nearly triple the growth in plug-in hybrids.
Market Overview, Public Sector, and Renewable Energy Sources
This increase, though significant, still leaves the country with less than 2% of the auto market made up of low-emission vehicles. However, the growing market interest is a positive indicator.
According to García, more and more individuals and companies are seriously considering the option of purchasing an electric vehicle. On the other hand, in terms of charging infrastructure and the adoption of electric vehicles, Chile has 497 public charging points.
Nevertheless, García emphasized that, although significant progress has been made, a greater expansion of the charging infrastructure is needed, especially regarding fast and ultra-fast charging, to boost consumer confidence.
“The Chilean government is key to this momentum, especially with the electrification of public transport, which has led to the incorporation of more than 2,400 electric buses,” García stated.
However, the Latam Mobility director warned that, to meet the government’s goal of banning combustion vehicle sales by 2035, an exponential increase in electric vehicle sales is necessary, beyond the current doubling rates.
On another note, Chile’s energy transition was also a central theme during the presentation. García mentioned the importance of aligning sustainable mobility projects with renewable energy sources. “Reducing coal dependence and diversifying the energy matrix will be key for Chile to advance its sustainability agenda,” he concluded.
