Aymesa

Automóviles y Máquinas del Ecuador S.A. was founded at Quito in 1970 and began vehicle manufacture with General Motors cooperation. The locally adapted Andino entered the market in 1973 from GM's Basic Transportation Vehicle program, becoming Ecuador's first domestically manufactured automobile. Aymesa then imported fiberglass-molding technology and developed locally badged Gacela, Amigo, Cóndor, Gala and Cargo vehicles around GM/Opel foundations; the Cóndor achieved particular commercial and motorsport prominence. General Motors took an equity position in 1982 and the plant transitioned to Chevrolet branding around 1984, ending the distinct Aymesa passenger-car marque while the corporation continued. Subsequent assembly programs retained their external identities: Datsun, Suzuki, Opel/Chevrolet, Lada, Kia and Hyundai. The factory closed temporarily in 2004, reopened under new administration in December 2006, and today remains a major Ecuadorian assembler. Current Kia and Hyundai models are not relabeled as Aymesa cars; only the historical own-badge range appears under this marque.

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