The electoral proposal of the Christian Democratic Party (PDC) to nationalize the ‘Chutos’ cars generated the rejection of the automotive sector, which warns a strong impact on the formal sale of vehicles. According to the Bolivian Automotive Chamber (CAB), the project – confirmed by this match, which won the first electoral round— It would put the flow of more than $ 3,000 million that currently generate concessionaires at risk throughout the country.
The hospitalization of these vehicles according to the business organization also puts the stability of 10,000 direct jobs, 50,000 indirect and around $ 500 in taxes that the automotive activity provides every year.
The hospitalization of undocumented vehicles, according to the Bolivian Automotive Chamber (CAB), also puts at risk the stability of at least 10,000 direct jobs50,000 indirects and around $ 500 million in taxes that generates automotive activity every year.
The president of the CAB, Jhony Salvatierra, warned that the PDC proposal would mean A “punishment for formality” for a sector that has a multiplier effect on the economy.
“It is very difficult to compete against the stolen, against the illicit, against what does not pay taxes. We, as a formal sector, provide work and security, but we see how informality is encouraged,” he questioned.
The automotive sector also warned of the impact on the vehicle park and the fuel subsidy.
Currently, Bolivia has 2.5 million motorized, of which 1.7 million are four -wheeled vehicles. However, the camera estimates that About one million cars entered illegally, mainly from Chile, Brazil and Argentina, And now even from the United States.
“If this million vehicles are legalized, the country will not have the capacity to supply gasoline or sustain the subsidy,” said Salvatierra.
Automotive Park
Bolivia today has 2.5 million vehicles, of which 1.7 million are four -wheeled motorized. The CBA estimates that at least one million illegal vehicles already circulate in the country, from Chile, Brazil, Argentina and, recently, even from the United States.
Concern is not only unfair competition, but also Pressure that this “invasion” generates on the fuel supply and the state subsidy. “We already have problems supplying gasoline and diesel. If we add one million more cars, will it be possible for the country to endure the subsidy? I doubt it. Joy for a few, hunger for the majority,” he warned.
Proposal
In this context, the candidate of the Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Rodrigo Paz Pereira, ratified his proposal to legalize undocumented cars, although he clarified that Stolen vehicles will be returned to the country of origin. “If there were stolen cars from any other country, we will return the cars, as we also ask to return us if there are stolen cars from Bolivia that go to other nations, because this is round trip,” he said.
Paz explained that legalization is the best way to know with certainty how many vehicles circulate in Bolivia and measure how much they consume in fuels, a key fact for the management of subsidy. In addition, he stressed that this process It could become an important source of collection. According to their calculations, if half a million cars are legalized, charging around $ 2,000 per unit, the State could raise up to $ 1 billion.
The PDC applicant noticed that his initiative does not contemplate the legalization of cars with theft report and that, if detected, they will be excluded and returned to their country of origin. He also defended that The proposal must be understood as a sovereign decision: “We will not allow any country to have the dignity and sovereignty of our people to make decisions,” he said.
However, the idea already generates resistance. The formal automotive sector argues that legalizing the illegal not only means rewarding smuggling, but also threatens employment and investment in the formal field.
Customs carriers and authorities expressed concern about the impact of this measure on security, the order of the automotive park and the costs of fuel subsidy.
The Chilean government criticized Rodrigo Paz’s proposal, stating that most of these vehicles were stolen in their country. Chilean Interior Minister Álvaro Elizalde said “Establishing some form of legalization is an incentive for those illicit, In Chile, outside of Chile, wherever. ”
Rodrigo Paz won the elections of August 17, 2025 with 32.06 % of the votes, followed by the ex -president Jorge Tuto Quiroga, who obtained 26.70 %. Both candidates will face each other in the second round on October 19.
Meanwhile, the automotive sector, questioned the lack of long -term vision In public policy.
“This is bread for today and hunger for tomorrow. Today is the automotive sector, tomorrow will be the pharmacist or any other,” said Salvatierra.
The businessman added that in other countries the State takes care of its formal companies because it considers them strategic partners.
“In Bolivia, instead of receiving incentives, we receive punishments. Nationalize the chutos is to reward smuggling and destroy the low formality, ”he said.
The guild called on candidates and citizens to defend formality, because not only jobs and collection depend on it, but also the sustainability of the economic model. “The country cannot afford to lose $ 500 million in taxes, or $ 3 billion in economic movement. Let’s bet on formality, not for informality,” he concluded.
