Overview
- Official Inegi figures for October show steep declines: production fell 58.8% to 7,131 units, exports dropped 55.3% to 5,221, and wholesale sales slid 61%, with Hino, Dina, MAN, Volvo and Volkswagen reporting zero exports that month.
- A 25% U.S. tariff on Mexican heavy‑truck exports has been in effect since November 1, weighing on an industry that sent roughly 94% of exports to the United States in the January–October period.
- Mexico updated rules to cap imported used heavy vehicles at 10 years of age, a move welcomed by ANPACT as the sector presses to renew a fleet averaging about 19 years and to advance cleaner technologies.
- Manufacturers report supply‑chain recalibration and cost absorption: Kenworth cites about 72% U.S. content and higher steel and aluminum costs, Freightliner is boosting local sourcing, and International shows a 45.6% year‑to‑date production drop as some projects are delayed pending T‑MEC review clarity.
- At Expo Transporte in Guadalajara, Dongfeng reaffirmed plans for a Mexican assembly operation and Shacman announced a Puebla plant with an initial $4 million investment and 1,000‑unit capacity (scalable to 4,000) focused on Latin America, while reporting indicates Mexico’s proposed higher tariffs on Chinese vehicles may be taken up next year.