2026 began with a significant adjustment for the heavy vehicle industry in Mexico . Production and exports, two of the sector’s main drivers, registered declines of over 50% during January, marking a less dynamic start to the year for plants located in the country, according to the National Association of Bus, Truck and Tractor-Trailer Manufacturers (ANPACT) .
During the first month of the year, 6,793 units were produced , representing a decrease of 51.9% compared to January 2025, according to the ANPACT report.
Of the total manufactured, 6,653 units corresponded to the cargo segment and 140 to the passenger segment , confirming that production activity continues to be concentrated mainly on vehicles for the transport of goods.
The adjustment was also reflected in foreign trade. Last January, 5,076 units were exported , all from the cargo segment, representing a 53.8% contraction compared to the same month of the previous year.
Furthermore, the international reach was smaller: during January 2026, heavy vehicles were sent to seven countries , including Canada, Colombia and Peru, while in the cumulative period from January to December 2025, exports had reached 14 markets .
By segment, tractor-trailer trucks registered 2,481 units exported, a decrease of 51.7% compared to 2015, while the other cargo category reached 2,595 units, with a drop of 55.5% . Overall, the subtotal of cargo fell from 10,970 to 5,076 units.
The total cargo and passengers exported in the first month of the year stood at five thousand 076 units, compared to 10 thousand 985 in January 2025.
Thus, the start of 2026 reflects a profound adjustment in the sector’s foreign trade, with widespread declines in both tractor units and the rest of the segments.
In terms of technology, production and exports maintained a traditional composition: in January no electric or natural gas vehicle units were produced or exported , so manufacturing was concentrated on conventional configurations.
Used: a flow that continues to weigh
While production and exports face a contracting environment, the import of used heavy vehicles continues to be a structural element of the Mexican market.
Between January and December 2025, 26,064 used heavy vehicles entered the country , a figure that represented a decrease of 14.3% compared to the same period in 2024.
However, the magnitude of the phenomenon remains relevant: for every 100 new vehicles, 65.4 used ones are imported , a proportion that maintains pressure on the renewal of the vehicle fleet and on the dynamics of the production industry established in Mexico.
The start of 2026 paints a picture in which domestic manufacturing and exports face an adjustment phase, while the flow of used units continues to have a significant weight in the domestic market.
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