The Mexican automotive sector is the backbone of Mexican manufacturing and exports , which is why its participation in the revision of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is “essential” to preserve regional competitiveness, said Elisa Crespo , executive president of the Metropolitan Automotive Cluster (CLAUT) .
Crespo warned that failure to consider the industry’s proposals in the review of the trilateral trade agreement, scheduled for July 2026, could lead to strategic and structural risks, such as a loss of regional competitiveness, fragmentation of North American value chains, negative economic and labor impacts, and geopolitical uncertainty.
“Failure to address the automotive sector’s proposals in the USMCA review could compromise Mexico’s strategic position within the world’s most dynamic trading bloc. The industry requires a framework that combines certainty, competitiveness, and flexibility to address the sector’s technological and energy transformation. Therefore, incorporating its leadership into the negotiations is ideal and essential,” he said in an interview with T21.
The specialist indicated that CLAUT’s participation in the open dialogue on the USMCA will allow for a “snapshot of the concerns and vulnerability” in the sector, and said that the State of Mexico is highly productive for this industry, with the presence of key automakers such as General Motors , Ford , Stellantis , and heavy vehicle manufacturers such as Daimler and Volvo Buses .
The USMCA review represents a “great opportunity” to align efforts and criteria that strengthen the productive and competitive integration of North America , he emphasized.
He added that the proposals the cluster will present aim to anticipate opportunities and promptly address critical issues in the treaty . Among the main points to be addressed are tariffs, rules of origin, customs procedures, investment and labor conditions, as well as energy and development subsidies.
He also indicated that CLAUT collaborates closely with the country’s leading business organizations and welcomed the “open dialogue” it maintains with the Ministry of Economy .
The cluster plays an important role as an articulator, analyst, and technical and strategic interlocutor with companies, with the aim of contributing to the construction of a common position as a country .
Elisa Crespo shared that the formal participation mechanism in the USMCA consultations consists of a consultation with companies, guided by specialists with experience in previous negotiations. The results will be presented in writing, although in-person dialogue with the authorities will be prioritized.
Crespo called on industry leaders to assume their responsibility and actively participate in the process, and expressed his full confidence in the ability of Mexico’s representatives during the USMCA review to defend the agreement and this industry.
It’s worth remembering that the Mexican automotive industry has had its ups and downs so far this year . In September 2025 alone, both production and exports registered negative figures in their annual measurement.
According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) , automobile manufacturing in Mexico totaled 355,525 units in the ninth month of the year, a 6.1% drop compared to the same period in 2024; while exports of light vehicles manufactured in the country totaled 314,656 units, representing a 0.3% decline in annual growth.
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