Iran’s state-dominated auto sector delivered a study in contradictions on 31 June when Iran Khodro held a priority sales lottery for 62,000 vehicles and drew over 1.7 million registrations. The scramble for factory-priced cars, including Peugeot 207s, Taras, and Dena Plus models, underscored a supply shortage that has long fed speculative secondary trading. On the same day, however, prices across the broader Iranian market fell sharply. The Peugeot 207 automatic panoramic lost 60 million tomans, the Dena Plus automatic shed 50 million, and even the new Rira SUV dropped by the same margin. Market participants attributed the correction to relative stability in the rial, increased manufacturer supply, and a seasonal lull, offering a rare cooling after months of heat.\n\nHalf a world away, Argentina’s new-car financing engine is sputtering. In May 2026, pledges on 0 km vehicles fell 14 per cent from April and 30 per cent year-on-year, covering only 44 per cent of registrations. Buenos Aires analysts say the advertised low rates mask a ballooning total financial cost once compulsory insurance and fees are added. Worse, the monthly upkeep of a new car—patent, insurance, fuel, parking—can reach 600,000 to 900,000 pesos, absorbing a third of a typical household’s income. Consequently, nearly eight in ten transactions involve used cars. A Kavak survey found hatchbacks command 48 per cent of that market, led by the Peugeot 208 and Toyota Etios, with women now accounting for 44 per cent of buyers. Even so, credit remains a minor force in used sales outside specialised platforms.\n\nCost pressures extend beyond purchase price. Research by the American firm iSeeCars analysing 1.2 million 2022-model vehicles shows that colour alone can swing depreciation by thousands of dollars. Yellow cars retained the most value over three years (24 per cent depreciation), followed by orange and green, while ubiquitous black and white lost over 30 per cent. In Indonesia, ongoing ownership costs take the form of tune-ups: comprehensive engine servicing ranges from 300,000 rupiah for budget cars to more than 5 million for diesel SUVs at authorised workshops, a maintenance item that can restore fuel efficiency but adds to a vehicle’s lifetime burden.\n\nThe next few weeks will test both Iran’s market equilibrium, as lottery results are certified by regulators, and Argentina’s credit appetite, with monthly registrations set to reveal whether the retreat from financing deepens. In neither market is a swift rebound expected without broader economic stabilisation.