The Mexican automotive industry began 2026 with mixed signs: while light vehicle production registered a slight contraction in the first two months of the year, exports maintained moderate growth driven by demand from the US market.
According to the Administrative Registry of the Automotive Industry of Light Vehicles (RAIAVL) , in February 2026, 311,457 units were produced in the country, 1.80% less than in the same period last year.
The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) indicated that in the accumulated period from January to February 2026 , the automotive plants installed in Mexico manufactured 625,774 light vehicles , which represented a negative variation of 0.58% compared to the same period in 2025.
The report also shows that the sector’s production structure continues to be dominated by light trucks (a category that includes SUVs and pickups) , which accounted for 80.4% of total production , while the remainder corresponded to automobiles.
Exports remain dynamic
Despite the slight drop in production, exports registered a positive performance at the start of the year.
During the first two months of 2026, Mexico exported 485,426 light vehicles , a figure that implied a growth of 1.36% compared to the same period in 2025, despite the annual rate drop of 4.45% that exports registered in February, with 247,945 vehicles.
The main destination for vehicles assembled in the country continues to be the United States , a market that accounted for 75.7% of international shipments .
This predominance reflects the high integration of the regional automotive industry under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) , as well as Mexico’s role as an export platform for the North American market.
Data from the start of 2026 shows an industry that maintains its export capacity, although it faces adjustments in its production rate.
Factors such as the evolution of global demand, changes in vehicle electrification, and the reorganization of supply chains continue to influence the performance of the automotive sector, one of Mexico’s manufacturing and logistics pillars.
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