{"id":66718,"date":"2026-06-15T05:05:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T10:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/latamobility.com\/?p=66718"},"modified":"2026-06-11T13:09:02","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T18:09:02","slug":"toyota-bets-on-multi-technology-and-xpeng-on-ai-auteco-blue-autovardi-and-inchcape-join-the-debate-on-innovation-in-the-colombian-automotive-ecosystem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/latamobility.com\/en\/toyota-bets-on-multi-technology-and-xpeng-on-ai-auteco-blue-autovardi-and-inchcape-join-the-debate-on-innovation-in-the-colombian-automotive-ecosystem\/","title":{"rendered":"Toyota Bets on Multi-Technology and Xpeng on AI: Auteco Blue, Autovard\u00ed and Inchcape Join the Debate on Innovation in the Colombian Automotive Ecosystem"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

During the sixth edition of \u201cLatam Mobility Colombia 2026,\u201d<\/strong> held at the Orquideorama<\/strong> of the Medell\u00edn Botanical Garden, the panel \u201cAutomotive Ecosystem and Regional Challenges: Innovation and Adoption for Sustainable and Connected Mobility\u201d<\/strong> took place, moderated by Andr\u00e9s Garc\u00eda<\/strong>, Director of Mobility at Invest In Latam<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The panel consisted of Carlos Rodr\u00edguez Ariza<\/strong>, Commercial and After\u2011Sales Director of Auteco Blue<\/strong>; Julio Calder\u00f3n<\/strong>, Chief Compliance Officer of Automotores Toyota Colombia<\/strong>; Mar\u00eda Cristina Castro<\/strong>, General Manager of Autovard\u00ed<\/strong> (representative of Chery<\/strong> in Colombia); Nicol\u00e1s Mu\u00f1oz<\/strong>, Brand Manager of Xpeng<\/strong>; and Rosmary Morales<\/strong>, Sustainability Lead of Inchcape<\/strong> (importer of brands such as Xpeng<\/strong>, GWM<\/strong>, Mercedes\u2011Benz<\/strong>, Suzuki<\/strong>, Jeep<\/strong>, among others).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They all agreed that the Colombian new energy vehicle market has experienced exponential growth<\/strong>, but warned that structural challenges still exist that require joint action<\/strong> between the private sector, government, and academia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may also be interested in<\/strong> | Report | Fleets in Colombia: Renewal, Electrification, and New Rules Setting the Course in 2026<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accelerated Growth and Technology Diversification<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rosmary Morales<\/strong> opened the conversation by noting that Inchcape<\/strong>, as the largest multi\u2011brand importer and distributor in the world, grew more than 60%<\/strong> in the representation of hybrid and electric vehicles between 2025 and 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHaving that multi\u2011brand perspective allows us to adapt to consumer needs,\u201d<\/strong> she said, and explained that while some customers opt for a 100% electric vehicle<\/strong>, others find in hybrids the best gateway to the transition<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mar\u00eda Cristina Castro<\/strong> supported this vision and added that 50% of the new vehicle fleet sold in Colombia already corresponds to new energies<\/strong> (hybrids at all levels, plug\u2011ins, and electric vehicles).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also highlighted that Colombia has surpassed countries like Costa Rica in electric vehicle penetration, reaching figures above 20%<\/strong> for some brands, and is approaching Uruguay which has 30%<\/strong> . \u201cWhen the market sells more than half of its vehicles in new energies, we really have to talk about new mobility in the country,\u201d<\/strong> she stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Software and Artificial Intelligence as Differentiators<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nicol\u00e1s Mu\u00f1oz<\/strong> presented Xpeng<\/strong>\u2019s vision \u2013 a company that goes beyond car manufacturing: it is an artificial intelligence (AI) company<\/strong> that also develops drones, manned flights, and humanoids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He explained that today customers no longer look only for range and price, but for added value through software<\/strong>. Xpeng<\/strong> offers over\u2011the\u2011air (OTA) updates<\/strong> that allow the vehicle to evolve with the market and learn from global AI. \u201cWe are selling software and everything it means to make people\u2019s lives easier,\u201d<\/strong> he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also highlighted the importance of after\u2011sales service as a trust builder<\/strong>: Xpeng<\/strong> is certifying high\u2011voltage technicians and equipping workshops with the highest standards, aware that fear of an accident or technical failure is one of the main barriers to adoption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Toyota: 60 Years in Colombia and a Multi\u2011Technology Strategy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Julio Calder\u00f3n<\/strong> recalled that Toyota<\/strong> has completed 60 years of uninterrupted presence in Colombia<\/strong>, during which time it has learned that the country is 90% rural<\/strong>. Therefore, the brand rejects over\u2011reliance on a single technology and bets on a range of solutions ranging from full hybrid<\/strong> to battery electric vehicle<\/strong> and, in the future, hydrogen<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is no single technology, just as there is no single solution for all problems,\u201d<\/strong> he emphasized. Calder\u00f3n<\/strong> presented the concept of \u201cpeace of mind\u201d<\/strong> as Toyota<\/strong>\u2019s hallmark, backed by a value chain that includes always\u2011available spare parts, effective after\u2011sales, and the development of Kinto<\/strong>, a mobility\u2011as\u2011a\u2011service platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also warned about a troubling fact: if Colombia wants to reach the goal of 600,000 electric vehicles by 2030<\/strong>, it will need the equivalent of 1.5 times the capacity of the Ituango hydroelectric project<\/strong> to supply the required energy. \u201cIs Colombia prepared for that level of investment? It is an uncomfortable question, but we must answer it,\u201d<\/strong> he raised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Auteco Blue: B2B Learnings and Technical Training<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Carlos Rodr\u00edguez Ariza<\/strong> shared the experience of Auteco Blue<\/strong>, a company specialized in electric mobility since 2019, focused mainly on the business sector (B2B).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He noted that the company\u2019s evolution has been based on data collected from real operations<\/strong> in different productive sectors of the country. Thanks to its six years of experience, the company has developed specific telemetry for electromobility and has become a service station in Colombia for two of the world\u2019s leading battery manufacturers: CATL and Gotion<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rodr\u00edguez<\/strong> highlighted the importance of technical training as a barrier not yet resolved<\/strong>: \u201cTechnical institutions must prepare their academic curricula to train the workforce required by the new field of electromobility.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n