Light vehicle production in Mexico in August 2025 showed negative figures, while unit exports accelerated in their annual measurement, despite uncertainty over tariffs in the United States, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) .
In the eighth month of the year, automobile manufacturing in Mexico totaled 349,856 units , representing a 0.8% drop compared to the same month in 2024, when 352,615 cars were manufactured, according to the Administrative Registry of the Light Vehicle Automotive Industry (RAIAVL) .
Meanwhile, in the first eight months of 2025, 2,666,029 units were produced , an increase of just 0.5% compared to the same period last year.
Of the total manufactured between January and August of this year, light trucks accounted for 77.2% , with 2,058,105 units ; the remainder was automobile production, with 607,924 vehicles .
Toyota showed a 40.5% growth in its production, adding 210,737 units compared to 149,955 in the same period in 2024. It was followed by KIA , with an increase of 9.2%, Ford with 6.3% and General Motors with a rise of 1.8% in the accumulated year.
Exports accelerate
Exports of light vehicles manufactured in Mexico in August 2025 totaled 296,796 units , an annual increase of 1.41% ; however, in the January-August period, shipments abroad fell 1.02% , with 2,252,578 vehicles exported.
The United States remained the leading buyer of Mexican-made cars during the period, with 1,779,044 units , representing a 79 percent share. Canada followed with 250,822 cars, representing 11.1 percent of shipments abroad.
Among the brands with the most exports in the first eight months of the year are Toyota, with a 40.8% increase over the same period in 2024. It was followed by Ford with a 9.7% increase , and KIA with a 9.5% increase .
On September 4, INEGI reported that light vehicle sales in Mexico reached 124,167 units in August, a 3% annual drop. This figure was later adjusted to 124,180 vehicles, reflecting the same variation.
Figures released by INEGI on Tuesday show mixed results in terms of production—which fell after two consecutive annual increases—and vehicle exports, stemming from the protectionist policies of the United States. The country remains the main buyer of cars manufactured in Mexico, despite the fact that Donald Trump, President of the United States, has expressed his rejection of Mexican-made cars.
Comment and follow us on X: @GrupoT21
