During the first months of 2025, a year in which freight and passenger transport has shown signs of contraction, with falls of up to 28.6% , according to figures shared by Daniela Bastida, CEO of Grupo TAB , this company has managed to remain firm .
In fact, the most recent official data from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) already anticipated this trend: in 2024, the total volume transported by federal trucking was 539.2 million tons , which represented an annual decrease of 1.5% compared to 2023.
In the case of passenger transport, 2.847 million people traveled , a 2.9% reduction , which demonstrated a sustained slowdown in the sector.
For Bastida, the key is a well-established diversification strategy built over more than two decades, a genuine closeness to customers, and a passion that permeates every corner of its operations.
“In this context, the truth is that we have good news at Grupo TAB because we have grown in the passenger segment, for example; we grew 35% in sales compared to the previous year,” Bastida explained in an interview with T21.
And he has reason to say so: while the passenger segment fell nationwide, the TAB Group managed to grow sales there by 35% during the first five months of 2025.
In terms of load , although the drop was inevitable, the decrease was only 4%, he commented.
The executive attributes these results to a strategy focused on serving not only large fleets , but also small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
“Diversification allows us to compensate: when one client slows down, another advances,” he explained.
2024 was a record year for the group. With nearly 1,000 units sold and a growth of over 140% in spare parts, the company reached a point of consolidation as an authorized Daimler distributor .
But 2025 brought new challenges: economic contraction, tariff uncertainty, lower private investment, and growing insecurity, especially in the Bajío region. Added to this are the delays in automotive production and exports to the United States, which have affected related industries.
“The situation requires being very close to the client, understanding their reality and what they can do to continue operating,” he said.
Faced with this situation, the TAB Group has intensified its focus on after-sales services. With the slowdown in fleet renewal, strategies have been reoriented toward keeping the units already in circulation operational.
“Many transporters have part of their fleet idle. That’s why we offer comprehensive packages, partial repairs, remanufactured products, and maintenance contracts that allow them to continue operating without having to pay for a new unit,” Bastida explained.
In addition, they have strengthened their response capacity with mobile workshops , which allow them to perform on-site services or assist with road rescues without compromising the customer’s operations.
“I have to go where the client’s needs are,” he explained.
In their areas of influence, especially the State of Mexico and the Bajío region, they observe disparate realities, but with one common thread: the economic challenge.
In the Bajío region, he commented that insecurity has slowed investment. However, Bastida insists that these times also bring opportunities.
“We have to constantly reinvent ourselves, and we can’t offer what we offered five years ago,” he stressed.
Aware of the change represented by the technological transition established in NOM 044 , which regulates emissions from heavy vehicles, Grupo TAB decided to get ahead of the curve with a well-calculated strategy: making a planned purchase of Euro 5 units, while preparing the ground for the gradual adoption of Euro 6 standards.
The group doesn’t foresee an immediate market recovery. The company’s internal outlook is that the improvement won’t begin until the second quarter of 2026 .
Meanwhile, they will continue to operate with efficiency and financial responsibility, maintaining cash flow, adjusting expenses, and adapting to real-world customer conditions. “Today, more than ever, financial solutions that accurately read the market are needed,” he stated.
But beyond the numbers, there’s one element that defines Grupo TAB’s philosophy: customer proximity . For Bastida, simply attending trade shows and industry events isn’t enough.
“We have to be very close to the client, sit down with them, see what their reality is and what they can do to continue operating,” he commented.
And that closeness translates into concrete actions. He explained that growth will come not only from more territory, but from more solutions.
Today, the group is considering diversifying into complementary products such as boxes and imported used items to meet new market demands.
This transformative vision is also reflected internally. Bastida commented that Grupo TAB was a pioneer in the inclusion of women in key areas: 80% of its management team is made up of women, many of them in workshops, parts, and technical support.
“It’s not about meeting quotas, it’s because they’re the best,” he proudly emphasized.
Her leadership was recognized by Daimler. She commented that, at first, many customers turned to her husband (also part of the company), unaware that she was the one making the decisions.
When asked for one word to define his path at the head of the TAB Group, he doesn’t hesitate: Passion .
“That’s what I try to instill in the entire team. And I think we’ve achieved it,” he said.
That passion, combined with innovation, closeness, and discipline, has allowed the group to not only survive but also grow in a challenging environment. “We are in a time of many challenges, but also many opportunities,” he concluded.
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