- Inchcape Americas organised a discussion highlighting that personal mobility continues to be a key factor for well-being in Latin America. According to the study presented, 86% of consumers believe that owning a car improves their quality of life, and over 70% maintain a positive perception of new energy vehicles.
As part of World Electric Vehicle Day, Inchcape Americas, together with Ipsos, organised the discussion “Engines of Change: Latin American Consumer Perspectives for More Sustainable Mobility”, a platform for dialogue with experts and opinion leaders on the challenges and opportunities of transitioning to new energy sources in the region.
The event, held on Monday, 8 September, with Forbes as the media partner, featured the participation of Laura Viegas, Communications and Sustainability Director at Inchcape Americas; José Miguel Silva, Regional Director of New Energy Vehicles at Inchcape Americas; Alexandre Saint-Léon, Global Leader of the Automotive Development and Mobility Studies Unit at Ipsos; and Mauricio Ramírez, Director of the Marketing and Innovation Studies Unit at Ipsos Chile. The discussion was moderated by journalist Carolina Escobar.
During the panel, findings from the study “Engines of Change 2025”, conducted by Inchcape and Ipsos with nearly 6,000 consumers from six Latin American countries and seven Asia-Pacific countries, were shared. The research revealed that the vast majority of Latin Americans perceive personal mobility as a key factor in improving their quality of life, associating it with access to employment, education, and social life. However, while 57% have a positive view of new energy vehicles (NEVs), only between 21% and 49% plan to adopt them in the short term. The most significant barriers are the price, up to 45% higher, the lack of charging infrastructure (34%), and range anxiety (over 40%).
Laura Viegas explained that “personal mobility plays a fundamental social role by enabling people to access essential opportunities that improve their quality of life. The challenge is how to make that mobility increasingly sustainable in our countries, driving the transition with consumers at the centre.”
For his part, Mauricio Ramírez from Ipsos Chile noted that “the predisposition towards new energy vehicles exists in the region, but to transform that positive perception into real adoption, progress is needed in incentives, infrastructure, and education. Each market has its own pace, and solutions must adapt to those realities.”
Alexandre Saint-Léon added that “the continuity of public policies is essential for progress. When governments set a clear direction and maintain it over time, both companies and consumers are encouraged to invest and change their habits. That medium- and long-term signal is key to accelerating the transition.”
The discussion also highlighted that transport accounts for approximately 15% of global CO₂ emissions, making NEVs an essential tool for reducing the environmental footprint. However, the gap between Latin America and Asia-Pacific was emphasised: in the Asian region, adoption is advancing more rapidly thanks to tax incentives, better infrastructure, and smaller price differences.
The panel concluded with a consensus: sustainable mobility in Latin America must be built inclusively and adapted to the diversity of contexts, with collaboration from governments, energy companies, manufacturers, and distributors. Hybrids were identified as a key enabling step, while education, infrastructure, and public policies were outlined as indispensable pillars for the region to move towards a cleaner and more accessible mobility future.
Watch the full discussion here: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7366521105928318976