Overview
- In August 2026 Mexico produced 344,940 light vehicles, a 1.43% decline from August 2025, while exports rose 1.26% to 300,475 units, according to INEGI/RAIAVL.
- Plant-level moves tied to U.S. trade measures have cut Mexican output through shift eliminations, scheduled stoppages and plant closures, with Volkswagen removing a production shift and Mercedes-Benz exiting the country.
- Nissan's Mexico production fell about 25% in the January–August 2026 cumulative period after the company closed CIVAC in Morelos and moved lines to Aguascalientes, shrinking exports and concentrating local job risk.
- Argentina's vehicle output recovered month-to-month to 39,381 units in August but fell 11.6% year-on-year and is down 17.1% for January–August 2026, while exports for the same cumulative period rose 0.9%, ADEFA reports.
- Broader industrial strain in Argentina is deepening: July manufacturing fell 4.9% year-on-year and textile chain segments posted severe declines with large job losses, while Mexico's autoparts sector posted record H1 revenue of about $63,833 million, underscoring uneven firm-level outcomes and regional exposure to U.S. demand and trade rules.