The renewal of the trucking fleet has returned to the forefront of the public agenda. Amidst pressure from operating costs, an aging fleet, and environmental regulations, the federal government presented an immediate action plan to protect the heavy vehicle industry in Mexico .

The plan aims at a dual objective: to boost domestic production of vehicles and improve the sector’s operating conditions , while also making progress in reducing emissions and improving road safety, commented Marcelo Ebrard, head of the Ministry of Economy (SE) .

In Thursday’s morning press conference, Ebrard explained that the program is structured around four pillars: tax incentives from the Mexico Plan , reactivation of the guarantee scheme, a new Official Mexican Standard on safety, and the updating of estimated prices for the importation of used heavy vehicles. 

Beyond the instruments themselves, the message was also reflected in the composition of the panel. The presence of Elías Dip, president of the National Confederation of Mexican Carriers (Conatram) , along with Augusto Ramos, president of the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) ; Virginia Olalde, executive director of the National Chamber of Passenger and Tourism Transportation (Canapat) ; Guillermo Rosales Zárate, executive president of the  Mexican Association of Automotive Distributors (AMDA) ; and Rogelio Arzate, executive president of the National Association of Bus, Truck, and Tractor-Trailer Manufacturers (ANPACT) , demonstrated that the program’s scope seeks to cover the entire spectrum of the transportation industry , not just one segment of the sector.

This integration also pointed to a necessary coordination to advance in the renewal of the vehicle fleet.

Incentives, financing and regulation: the package

The tax component is presented as one of the main drivers. The program will allow companies to deduct the investment in the purchase of heavy vehicles in a single year , instead of over a period of up to four years, which immediately improves cash flow for businesses.

To this end, two billion pesos (MXN) will be allocated to incentivize the purchase of vehicles produced or assembled in Mexico. In the example presented, the purchase of a vehicle valued at three million pesos (MXN) would allow for a deduction of up to two million five hundred and eighty thousand pesos (MXN) in the same fiscal year.

This scheme is complemented by the reactivation of the guarantee program , focused mainly on micro and small transport companies, as well as the so-called “man truck driver”, with the aim of facilitating access to financing, Ebrard explained.

For this sector, there is an initial fund of 250 million pesos , which will allow the acquisition of new units to be triggered through the support of development banks, said the federal official.

In parallel, the program includes the development of a new Official Mexican Standard on safety devices, which will apply to both new and used vehicles, national or imported, with the aim of raising standards on the road network.

The emphasis is in response to a context where around 30,000 accidents involving heavy vehicles are recorded annually, according to Ebrard, in addition to estimated emissions of between six and eight million tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) per year.

The fourth focus is on updating estimated prices for the import of used heavy vehicles, with the aim of avoiding market distortions, particularly due to practices such as the undervaluation of units and non-compliance with regulations , which seeks to establish equitable competitive conditions for the national industry.

Industry: urgent renewal and a signal to the market

The strategy is designed as a cross-cutting measure. According to Rogelio Arzate, approximately 200,000 direct and indirect jobs depend on this industry, making trucking one of the cornerstones of the Mexican economy.

Speaking on behalf of the sector, Arzate acknowledged the announcement as a strategic decision for the country and stressed the urgency of moving forward with the modernization of the vehicle fleet.

The fleet of heavy vehicles in Mexico has an average age of 19 years, which reinforces the need to accelerate its renewal, he noted.

The executive stressed that this transition has direct impacts on road safety, by incorporating more advanced technologies that protect operators, passengers and pedestrians, as well as reducing polluting emissions.

He also highlighted that the program will strengthen the productivity of the trucking industry and support micro and small businesses, particularly those facing greater barriers to accessing financing.

From an industrial perspective, the package also sends a signal about strengthening domestic content . Currently, the sector has 64% regional content, with 14% of that originating in Mexico, and there is a goal to increase this share by 2027.

With this, the program aims not only to renew fleets, but also to consolidate a more competitive ecosystem, with greater local integration and development of suppliers in the country.

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