16/06/2026 19:43 - Economia
Estación de carga Tesla Supercharger con múltiples puntos de carga iluminados de noche, cables conectados a vehículos eléctricos, entorno moderno con logo de Tesla visible
Amid the successful IPO of SpaceX, which catapulted Elon Musk into history as the first trillionaire with a fortune estimated at $1.1 trillion, the tech magnate is setting his sights on the Southern Cone through Tesla. The electric and autonomous vehicle company is officially landing in Argentina with its own local office, a newly appointed CEO, and a framework agreement with YPF that could transform the country's energy landscape.
The letter of intent signed between Tesla and YPF outlines three key areas of collaboration:
A second major business opportunity is advancing rapidly: a data center in Neuquén (a province in northern Patagonia known for its oil and gas resources, particularly the Vaca Muerta formation) that Tesla would develop in partnership with YPF Luz, YPF's electricity generation subsidiary. The project includes:
Would provide infrastructure through its specialized data center business unit.
Would supply the natural gas needed for the energy project's development.
Tesla has named Joaquín Lizarralde as country manager for Argentina and Uruguay. A former commercial director at Kavak (a major used car marketplace in Latin America) with previous experience at RDA Mobility, Lizarralde brings over 12 years of expertise at the intersection of the automotive industry, digital sector, and marketplaces.
On June 16, 2026, Horacio Marín, President of YPF, toured Tesla's Gigafactory in Texas alongside Michael Snyder, Tesla's Vice President of Energy.
"I left impressed. Technology, innovation, and execution coexist on a scale that's hard to imagine until you see it up close."
- Horacio Marín on X (formerly Twitter)
Tesla's arrival is not merely commercial: it's strategic and geopolitical. Elon Musk is closely monitoring Chinese companies' expansion across Latin America and their growing presence in sectors where Tesla competes directly.
This competition with China extends beyond electric vehicles to other energy and technology sectors. Argentina thus becomes a battleground for geopolitical influence between the world's leading tech powers.
A Tesla delegation is scheduled to arrive in July 2026 to negotiate the partnership plan between the two companies. The agenda includes visits to Buenos Aires followed by Neuquén, where they will evaluate the data center project.
Sources close to the negotiations emphasize: "Musk wants Tesla to have a concrete presence in the southernmost reaches of the South", referring to the ambitious goal of reaching Ushuaia—the world's southernmost city, often called "the end of the world."
Alfredo S. Quiroga
