Mexico Moves to Regularize “Chocolate Cars” from Asia and Europe

The Mexican government has made a groundbreaking announcement that could change the landscape of automobile ownership for many of its citizens. In a key policy shift, Mexico is set to regularize foreign cars, colloquially known as “chocolate cars”, that are already on Mexican soil but lack proper documentation. These cars, originally from Asia and Europe and later marketed in the United States and Canada, will now have a path to legalization. The policy is commencing in December of the current year, marking a significant step towards addressing the status of these vehicles on Mexican streets.

A Press Conference with Deep Impact

In Baja California, situated in the northwest of Mexico and bordering California, U.S., Rosa Icela Rodríguez, the head of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), expressively detailed the decision during a press conference. For an extensive period, foreign vehicles’ owners have been pleading with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador for a solution to legitimize their cars. The cars in question are identifiable by serial numbers starting with a letter rather than a number, signaling they originate from Europe or Asia rather than the U.S. or Canada.

Rodríguez elaborated on the reasons behind this distinction and underscored the government’s response to public calls for vehicle regularization. From December 1, these vehicles will be incorporated into an existing decree that caters to vehicles already in Mexican territory and proves their marketing or importation in the U.S. or Canada.

Understanding the Regularization Program

The regularization program mandates several key requirements for car owners. Interested parties will need to request an authority appointment and pay a fee of 2,500 pesos (approximately 141.20 USD) per vehicle. Once the fee is processed, they will then have to wait for the regularization procedure tailored to individuals’ respective localities.

An integral part of the program’s due diligence is the verification of theft reports based on existing international agreements. This measure is geared towards ensuring that the vehicles in question have not been implicated in criminal activities.

A Step Towards Crime Prevention

This regularization initiative follows a decree launched on January 19, 2022, when the Mexican Government started regularizing “chocolate cars” for the first time. The decree aimed to register these vehicles officially as a means to deter crimes such as robbery, kidnapping, and extortion. Thus far, approximately 1.8 million such vehicles have been accounted for under this program.

With the regularization steps in place, the government continues its quest to establish control and prevent unlawful acts, highlighting vehicle ownership’s critical role in societal safety measures.

In Conclusion

The regularization of “chocolate cars” shows the Mexican government’s commitment to resolving long-standing issues related to undocumented foreign vehicles and enhancing security across the country. It is a move positively received by many who have waited for legitimate avenues to formalize the status of their vehicles. As December approaches, many are anticipating a smooth transition into this new chapter of vehicle regulation in Mexico.

Source: Sputnik World, Sputnik Mundo. Contact: [email protected], +74956456601.