Reducing polluting emissions remains the biggest environmental challenge for freight transport in Mexico , but not due to a lack of regulations, but rather a structural problem: the age of the fleet

With an average age of nearly 19 years, thousands of obsolete units continue to circulate without real incentives to be renewed, which limits the environmental and competitiveness advances of the sector, explained Isabel Studer, president of the Global Sustainability organization .

Beyond the environmental discourse, records from the General Directorate of Federal Motor Transport (DGAF) indicated that as of the  end of September 2025, the average age of cargo units in circulation remained practically unchanged , reflecting the structural difficulty in advancing an effective renewal of the vehicle fleet, despite regulatory adjustments and announcements on the matter.

The specialist explained that a significant portion of the emissions does not come from large companies, which have begun to incorporate environmental criteria due to efficiency and supply chain requirements, but from older vehicles operated by small owners.

These transporters, lacking financing schemes or specific support, keep 20 or even 25-year-old units in operation, as they represent their main source of income, he stressed.

The challenge becomes even more significant considering that trucking accounts for approximately 80% of the country’s land freight . Without modernizing its vehicle fleet, Mexico risks losing competitiveness to supply chains that already demand verifiable emissions reductions, regardless of the international political context or the fluctuations in the United States’ climate agenda.

While the ban on importing used heavy vehicles from the United States was a step in the right direction, Studer cautioned that the measure is insufficient without a comprehensive strategy. The problem isn’t solved simply by closing the door to obsolete vehicles, but rather by addressing what’s already on the road in the country.

From their perspective, more than two-thirds of older vehicles belong to small owners , so any solution must focus on scrappage programs accompanied by financing schemes for replacing vehicles. This requires specific resources and coordination that goes beyond the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) , also involving the Ministry of Economy (SE) .

The fleet modernization, he noted, would not only have environmental benefits but would also allow for the development of the domestic market for heavy vehicles , generating new opportunities for manufacturers established in Mexico. Representatives from the industry and sector associations have even expressed their willingness to participate in public-private partnerships that include the banking sector.

Currently, while commercial banks offer loans for the purchase of electric cars, there are no suitable financial instruments for heavy vehicles . This lack of credit options excludes small transport operators, who can hardly access more modern vehicles without financial support.

In this context, the adjustments made to NOM-044 , which allow the technological transition from Euro 5 to Euro 6 standards, represent a significant step forward. However, the expert noted that without a national fleet renewal strategy, even the best regulations will fall short.

“Modernizing the fleet not only reduces emissions, but also lowers operating costs,” he pointed out. The environmental problem of freight transport in Mexico, he emphasized, is not only technological or regulatory, but structural. Without a serious vehicle scrappage program, accessible financing, and clear tax incentives, the challenge will remain.

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Electrifying passenger transportation in Mexico is a possible goal , but it is not without obstacles, unlike in other countries where the models are already established.

Within the framework of the international panel Electric Buses in the Global South: Kenya, Chile and Mexico , organized by the Alliance for Sustainable Mobility , specialists addressed real solutions beyond rhetoric.

The case of Metrobús Line 3 in Mexico City was one of the most cited examples. The decision to replace the entire fleet with electric buses was not only technical but also strategic.

The choice was between continuing with diesel for another 10 years or opting for a cleaner alternative. That was the window of opportunity that was seized to advance the issue, according to Santiago Alanís, general manager of MIVSA at Mobility ADO .

The change involved everything from redesigning the electrical infrastructure to training all operators and mechanics.

“It’s not enough to plug them in like household appliances; it takes five megawatts to power the 60 buses, the same amount of electricity as a medium-sized city,” Alanís explained.

Beyond the equipment, one of the key challenges was adjusting the financial model. MIVSA renegotiated its contract to a 15-year term, which allowed the investment to be amortized.

“The initial cost is higher, but the long-term savings in maintenance and energy make up for it,” he explained.

In the case of Flecha Amarilla , the commitment extends beyond the nation’s capital. The company is testing electric mobility on foreign routes, a segment often left out of public policy.

Ulises Hernández, the company’s Director of Intelligence, emphasized that one of the biggest challenges is the lack of standardization in regulatory frameworks. “Each state has different rules. If we could standardize them, it would be much easier to accelerate the transition,” he stated.

Santiago Alanís and Ulises Hernández agreed that, although Mexico has a National Mobility Strategy and a general law on the subject, projects are still limited. As discussed in the panel, the country needs to better coordinate its efforts, bring together public and private actors, and ensure legal certainty to attract investment.

For Isabel Studer, president of Global Sustainability , Mexico has everything it needs to be a leader in this agenda. But the next step doesn’t depend on technology, but rather on the willingness to build collaborative solutions. “The pioneers are already here. Now it’s time to create the conditions so they’re not left alone,” she concluded.

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JIUTEPEC, MOR.- Faced with the challenges of urban congestion, an aging vehicle fleet, and rising emissions, key players in the transportation sector asserted that sustainability is no longer an option , but an urgent need that requires cross-sector collaboration, incentives for fleet renewal , and local action.

During the panel Sustainable Mobility of Goods , held within the framework of the Technology and Sustainable Mobility Meeting of the National Association of Private Transportation (ANTP) , Isabel Studer, president of Global Sustainability , stated that Mexico must stop seeing electromobility only as a future goal.

“I want to emphasize this issue for everyone because we sometimes forget that equality is an important issue, as is the environment and economic benefits. In Mexico, the domestic market has been ignored. Eighty percent of Mexicans don’t have the income to buy a car, and the vehicle fleet is aging,” Studer explained.

The specialist said that Mexico is a leader in vehicle manufacturing and has one of the oldest vehicle fleets in the world, which impacts both emissions and safety.

“As long as we continue to subsidize fuels instead of clean technologies, we will fall behind countries like India, Indonesia, or even Chile,” Studer warned.

For his part, Gonzalo Peón, director of the Mexico program at the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) , shared pilot experiences on the digitalization of urban logistics. One of these consisted of replacing traditional distribution centers with cross-docking points (a logistics technique that avoids long-term storage of goods) in stores close to consumers, using electric cargo bikes.

“The change allowed for a reduction of up to 90% in emissions and a reduction of more than a thousand pesos per month in energy consumption per motorcycle,” Peón explained. He added that the ITDP plans to scale up this model with support from international organizations and is already seeking allies within the ANTP.

Fernanda Espinosa, leader of the Aleatica Foundation , presented an overview of current road risks . She noted that a traffic accident occurs on a highway in Mexico every 33 minutes, and that concessioned highways with infrastructure investment (smart signage, warning strips, predictive maintenance) have up to 70% fewer collisions.

Espinosa also seeks to promote the implementation of the points-based driver’s license as a way to professionalize the sector.

“Eight out of 10 people are in favor. It’s a deterrent and educational tool that could reduce road accidents by up to 20%,” Espinosa said.

Jessica Quezada, senior project manager at Element , warned that 2030, a key date for many decarbonization goals, “is just around the corner.” She recommended maintaining fleet renewal schedules under five years and incorporating telemetry and driver education technologies.

“Good driving habits can translate into 30% fewer collisions and a more profitable operation. Today, the challenge is not only to renew, but also to educate and prepare operators for new technologies like electric trucks,” said Quezada.

For his part, panel moderator Marco Ávila, Director of Transportation at Coca-Cola FEMSA , explained that for him, sustainability in freight transportation involves redesigning models, integrating technology, securing infrastructure, and empowering those who operate the system.

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JIUTEPEC, MOR.- The lack of specialized infrastructure for urban logistics and the protectionist international context, among other situations, require a thorough review of the transportation system in Mexico , according to specialists gathered at the 3rd Meeting on Technology and Sustainable Mobility, organized by the National Association of Private Transportation (ANTP) .

After analyzing the global commitment to sustainable mobility, the speakers pointed out that sustainability must be approached as a comprehensive competitiveness strategy and not just an environmental component.

Energy efficiency and fleet renewal are essential elements for maintaining the operational viability of logistics companies. However, achieving this requires an industrial policy that reduces the country’s vulnerability to gas and fuel imports, according to Isabel Studer , president of the Global Sustainability Alliance .

The domestic market presents itself as a strategic opportunity in a global environment marked by tariffs, subsidies, and fierce competition in clean technologies, Studer said.

In the business case , the progress of Grupo Bimbo was highlighted , which already operates 3,751 electric vehicles in Mexico and more than 4,200 globally, as part of its goal of zero emissions by 2050 .

According to Luis Campos, the company’s global logistics director, the focus is on implementing technologies tailored to each country’s conditions , including renewable natural gas, ethanol, and propane.

On the academic side, a detailed overview of freight transportation in the Metropolitan Area of ​​the Valley of Mexico was presented , where more than 65% of trips originate and end within the same territory. This operation faces factors such as a lack of loading and unloading areas, deteriorating roads, public transportation disruptions, and insecurity.

Furthermore, more than 60% of distribution vehicles define their routes without the support of specialized logistics tools and park on public roads both for operations and overnight stays, which increases logistical and social risks. This information comes from the Origin-Destination Survey of Goods prepared by the Engineering Institute of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and presented by researcher Angélica Lozano.

On the technological front, tools such as real-time fleet management systems , artificial intelligence, and, in the near future, quantum computing were mentioned to solve complex logistics problems such as route optimization. However, it was noted that the digital divide continues to limit their implementation in marginalized or peripheral sectors.

Collaboration between academia, industry, and government, as well as investment in specialized logistics infrastructure, are necessary conditions for advancing sustainable freight mobility, the panelists explained.

They agreed that without data-driven decisions, the development of efficient public policies will be unviable, and with it, so will the country’s logistics competitiveness.

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The Global Sustainability organization and 18 strategic allies, including the National Association of Bus, Truck and Tractor Producers (ANPACT) and the National Association of Private Transportation (ANTP) , created the Alliance for Sustainable Mobility for All , with the purpose of promoting the electrification of public and private passenger and freight transportation in Mexico.

The reason for this initiative goes beyond the environmental; it is also, as Isabel Studer , president of Global Sustainability, said, a matter of social justice, since “while only 20% of the population can afford a private car, the majority today depends on insufficient and outdated public transport.”

“In Mexico, 70% of freight and public transport vehicles have an average age of 20 years, meaning that there are trucks and buses that can be up to 40 years old. Therefore, many small transporters, especially the so-called “truck-men” and small and medium-sized companies will be able to benefit from a renewal of their unit or their freight transport fleets if innovative financing schemes are designed,” the statement explained.

Studer added that examples such as the Metro Collective Transport System , the Trolleybus, the Cablebus, the Metrobus and other similar systems in different cities of the country show that we can and should move towards a new era of mobility that ensures the clean and accessible transport of people and goods for all.

Logistics and food production companies have also found that electromobility is a way to reduce costs , pollution and noise in various urban centers, through the use of medium-sized electric vehicles for the distribution of goods, known as “last mile” vehicles.

For her part, Shirley Wagner , Vice President of Global Sustainability, pointed out that other challenges to promote electromobility in Mexico, in addition to access to financing, have to do with clear and stable regulations that promote it and with the expansion of the charging infrastructure for these vehicles.

Rodolfo Osorio , coordinator of Electromobility at the Ministry of Economy , added that the best future for Mexico lies in electromobility, since in addition to ensuring the use of clean, renewable and non-polluting energy, it prevents the emission of greenhouse gases and global warming, and encourages greater social equity.

He stressed that the objectives of the Alliance for Sustainable Mobility for All are aligned with the vision of President Claudia Sheinbaum ‘s government to ensure that the energy needed for Mexico’s development, particularly that which comes from renewable sources, is accessible to all Mexicans.

The proposals of this initiative include the adoption of electric vehicles and shared mobility solutions , as well as the development of infrastructure to include charging stations in new residential and commercial projects.

It indicates that the transversal actors are telecommunications companies, as well as software and technology companies; banks and financial institutions, insurers and climate investment funds. In addition, it implies the participation of the energy sector, such as the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) , among other actors.

This Alliance involves specialists, universities and national and foreign research institutes, state governments, business representatives and various non-governmental organizations, including the Mexican Association of the Information Technology Industry (AMITI) , the Institute for Transportation and Policy Development (ITDP) , and the National Chamber of Electrical Manufacturers (Caname) .

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