Photo: Great Wall
In the last five years, vehicles manufactured in China went from 0.3 percent of new cars registered in Costa Rica, to 2.2 percent in 2013, according to the National Registry.
Last year a total of 47,471 cars were registered in the country. Toyota and Hyundai were the market leaders with 11,768 and 10,273, respectively. Chinese cars account for just 1,055 new car registrations last year. The figure is up from 110 in 2009.
Consumers report that the Chinese product is price competitive, and local dealers such as Great Wall are offering more extras than their competitors. There also the perception that a stigma about poor quality is being left behind.