JIUTEPEC, MOR.- The path to cleaner mobility in Mexico no longer depends solely on available technology, but also on the ability to coordinate public policies, territorial planning, and logistical operations. This was evident in the dialogue between authorities, institutions, and industry during the 4th Sustainable Mobility and Technology Meeting, organized by the National Association of Private Transportation (ANTP) .
The dialogue table, made up of Fabiola Olivares, from the Ministry of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development (Sedatu) ; Alejandro Villegas, coordinator of Policy Liaison of the Megalopolis Environmental Commission (CAMe) ; Luis Campos, director of Logistics at Grupo Bimbo , under the moderation of Leonardo Gómez, executive president of the ANTP , put on the table a structural challenge: while the pressure to reduce emissions advances, the operational conditions of transport —from the lack of infrastructure to urban complexity— continue to set the real pace of the transition.
From a regulatory standpoint, experts explained, updating standards remains a key priority. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) is working on revising key standards such as NOM-042 for light vehicles, as well as implementing cleaner technologies in the trucking industry .
In that regard, specialists noted that from 2025 onwards, new vehicles must comply with stricter standards such as Euro 6 or EPA 10 , which will allow for a reduction of up to 80% in some pollutants, particularly nitrogen oxides and compounds associated with poor air quality.
However, they made it clear that the transition is not limited to the vehicle itself. It also involves changes in logistics, training, and operational efficiency, including the use of more efficient tires, aerodynamic improvements, and programs like Clean Transportation, in which companies in the sector are already actively participating.
Beyond technology , territorial planning is emerging as a determining factor. Fabiola Olivares emphasized that the country has sufficient regulatory tools, but the challenge lies in their implementation.
Experts commented that land management is key to enabling spaces such as loading bays, rest areas, and electric vehicle charging points —elements that are not yet fully integrated into cities. Furthermore, the lack of these spaces directly impacts efficiency: a delivery vehicle can spend between 20% and 25% of its time simply looking for a place to load or unload, highlighting the urgent need for urban reorganization.
Alejandro Villegas warned that transportation remains one of the main sources of pollutants in the central region of the country. In the megalopolis, he said, this sector can contribute up to 76% of nitrogen oxides and 83% of carbon monoxide, placing it at the heart of the environmental strategy.
Since its inception, sustainability has been an integral part of Grupo Bimbo’s business strategy. The company emphasized that its approach is based on three pillars: people, community, and the environment. Regarding the latter, the company is making progress in reducing its environmental footprint through clean energy, a circular economy, water management, and regenerative agriculture . Currently, it boasts one of the largest electric fleets in the region, with thousands of vehicles in operation.
The accumulated experience shows that electrification is viable, although it requires infrastructure, planning, and sound financial models.
Last mile, an unresolved issue
During the discussion, the experts also highlighted the last mile as one of the most critical issues . They explained that this is where a large portion of the logistics costs and a significant portion of emissions are concentrated. Throughout the panel, the consensus was that the tools exist, but the challenge lies in their implementation.
The transition to sustainable mobility will not be immediate or uniform. It requires aligning regulation, infrastructure, technology, and operations in an environment where cities are growing, demand is increasing, and environmental requirements are becoming stricter.
In this scenario, coordination between authorities, industry, and transport users is emerging as the factor that will define how quickly—and how orderly—the sector will advance.
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