The electrification of passenger transport in Mexico faces challenges related to planning, infrastructure and energy distribution, factors that currently limit a faster adoption of electric buses in the country.
During a meeting with the media, within the framework of Expo Foro Movilidad 2026 , organized by the National Chamber of Passenger and Tourism Transportation (Canapat) , executives from Mercedes-Benz Buses pointed out that the main obstacle to promoting this technology is not the availability of the vehicles, but the structural conditions necessary for their operation.
The event was attended by Holger Düerrfeld, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Buses; Raúl González, Director of Sales, After-Sales and Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Buses; and Carlos García Amandi, General Director and Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Daimler Truck Financial Services Mexico , who addressed various topics related to the market, financing and the development of solutions for passenger transport.
“The problem is not technological. The problem is one of planning, certainty, infrastructure, and energy distribution,” Düerrfeld pointed out.
In this context, they explained that the deployment of electrical systems requires coordination between authorities, operators and energy infrastructure providers, especially to ensure that energy can reach the yards or terminals where the fleets operate.
Furthermore, Düerrfeld indicated that the development of electrification projects usually requires the support of the public sector, either through infrastructure support schemes or mechanisms that allow the first phases of implementation to be triggered.
Brand representatives also commented that the lack of standardization in transport systems between different cities increases the complexity of electrification projects, since each system may require different vehicle and infrastructure configurations.
Currently, the number of electric buses operating in the country remains small. According to what was noted during the meeting, around 170 electric buses are circulating in Mexico , reflecting the incipient level of adoption of this technology in public transportation.
Meanwhile, the bus market is also undergoing a period of adjustment. According to the most recent statistical bulletin from the National Association of Bus, Truck, and Tractor-Trailer Manufacturers (ANPACT) , wholesale sales of passenger vehicles totaled 296 units in February 2026, a 36.9% drop compared to the 469 units registered in the same month of the previous year.
The executives agreed that advancing the modernization of public transport will require closer collaboration between authorities, manufacturers, operators, and financing schemes to promote sustainable projects in the long term.
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