The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-12-04
MARKET
FOR AUTOMOBILES
Offers Greater Possibilities Than ANY
Other Country in South America
A Good Chance for the United
States.

states.
Argentina offers greater possibilitie
than any other country in South Americ,
az market for automotive vehicles
! says David Beecroft in a report mad,
public to-day by the bureau of foreign
! and domestic commerce, of the depart
ment of commerce.
The physical characteristics of the
country, with its prairielike pampas
ideal for agriculture, its population OF
100000 scattered over an area greater
than that Of the United States east OF
the Mississippi river, and its great need
for motor transportation of all types
make the country a particularly oppor-
tune field for such apparatus. Like the
great Mississippi valley In North Amer
lea, Argentina win undoubtedly develop
into the largest consumer Of motor We
hicles in South America.
| Previous to 1911, says the report, au-
tomobiles imported into Argentina came
largely from Europe The number of
cars imported into Argentina during the
| last six years was as follows: 1911,
2,46l; 1912, 1881; 1913, 5,ll5; 1914,
PISS; 1915, l,s41; 1915, 1920 Argen.
tina was importing automobiles from
Europe as early as from the United
States, Each year saw many Argentine
citizens spending the winters in Paris,
London and Berlin, where they lived at
the finest hotels, purchased the finest
motor cars, and naturally attracted the
attention of the entire European auto
mobile industry to their country. The
Importation of European automobiles
into Argentina reached its zenith in 1911,
the year of the crisis. Since that time
sales of the expensive European car have
fallen. and to-day there are unsold cars
that dealers have been carrying for years
These cars are now obsolete models and
many dealers will have difficulty in get
ting their original investment out of
them. II was this stock of high priced
European cars that held back the Amer
lean car and that is still holding back TO
some extent the sale of American cars
in the cities.
For 10 or Is years previous to the war
automobiles in Argentina were confined |
chiefly to the cities, such as Buenos Aires, |
Rosario, Bahia Blanca, Mendoza, Cordo |
ba, La Plata, Santa Fe, and Tucuman.
The European cars sold almost exclu-
sivelv in the cities. The American car
to-day is selling almost exclusively in |
the country. European cars were largely |
of the expensive types in all the best |
makes. They were owned by the veal
thy business men as well as the wealthy
tfarmersl, who spent much
of their time in the cities. The country
districts, being practically without i'm
proved roads, were not suitable for such
~, In 80 ~ RI n |
that a resident Of Buenos Aires would
attempt to drive even to Rosario, a dis
lance of IFS miles. In dry weather such
A drive might be possible, but It would
be verv unpleasant because of the trail
ike roads and the clouds of dust. In
wet weather the trip is impossible, for
he heavy cars could not make any prog
Tess over the blacksoil roads With few
the expensive European auto
nobile'was a city vehicle for the veal
.hy classes.
The advent of the American car in
quantities introduced new order of mo-
or. The cheap American car did not
appeal to the wealthy citizen. He con-
idered the United States capable of
farm implements, rail-
Dad cars and heavy hardware, but not :
# producing the luxurious and scientific
automobile. He refused to buy the
american car American manufacturers
gho confined their selling activities in
argentina to the cities met with very
United response.
Almost simultaneously with the war
change came about in the representa-.
ion of American automobiles in Argen-
ina. Selling activities formerly confined
o the cities were transferred TO the
ountry. Pioneer American statesmen
tarted across the pampas with their
automobiles. They proved
hat the American car is a practical ma
nine for these endless level stretches of
,rtile farming land. They proved that
ne virgin trails over which 10 to 20
orses slowly pulled the huge farm cart
18th its six to l2-foot wheels could be
aveled by the American car. The sales
an demonstrated TO the estanciero. At
rst he ives opposed to the car. II was
nprsctical in the country: il did not
lincide with his conceptions of car:
I'd II would not last A few demon
rations proved otherwise. The car
as driven over every part of the estan-
a. 10 was sold to the estanciero and
his family as well This selling cam
ign spread from one part Of the pam
s to another until il permested every
ut Of the cultivated country from the
.lantic TO the Andes
II is not surprising that with such an
PRODUCTION during 1914 and 1915. 50 TO
per cent Of tie American automobiles
ID in Argentina to-day 90 to the veal
y farmers. These cars are receiving
we're service. For months at a time
ey are left in the open. They are rare
washed from the date Of purchase un-
they are finally discarded. They are :
{ given that delicate attention that