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The sector produced 59,165 units last month, compared with 75,496 vehicles in April 2013.

However, production was up.5% compared with March 2014. 

Vehicle sales to the domestic market reached 51,346 units in April, down 40% compared with the 85,533 vehicles sold in the corresponding month in 2013.

Compared with March 2014, domestic car sales increased by 3.2%.

The sector’s exports came to 32,579 vehicles, down by 21.6% year-on-year, but up by 12.5% month-on-month.

Argentina’s automotive industry is seeing lower demand in both local and export markets, according to Adefa.

“In the first four months of the year, the automotive sector saw a contraction in its main variables,” it said.

From January to April, auto production in Argentina came to 206,581 units, a 17.9% decline compared with the same period in 2013.

And domestic sales were down by 29.8% in the same comparison, to 202,652 units, while exports fell by 18.6%, to 106,827 units.

Steel components make up about 55.7% of a vehicle's weight and represent around 7.9% of its sales value.