Fleet renewal remains a key challenge for the Mexican trucking industry. With an average fleet age exceeding 19 years and thousands of small carriers operating under financial pressure, the federal government has introduced a guarantee program aimed at facilitating access to financing for the purchase of new and used vehicles.

During the AMDA Commercial Vehicles Forum 2026, held by the  Mexican Association of Automotive Distributors (AMDA) , officials from the Ministry of Economy (SE) and the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) detailed the operation of the scheme and the complementary actions with which they seek to promote the modernization of the vehicle fleet.

Carlos Castillo, head of the Productive Development Unit of the SE, explained that the program is part of a broader strategy comprised of four pillars: tax incentives for the acquisition of heavy vehicles assembled in Mexico, the guarantee program for financing, the updating of reference prices and the development of a new safety standard for heavy units.

“The heavy vehicle manufacturing sector is going through a difficult time in Mexico,” he acknowledged, adding that the measures aim to contribute to the industry’s recovery.

One of the central components of the strategy is the tax incentive included in the so-called Mexico Plan . This mechanism allows for an immediate deduction on investments made in buses, trucks, and tractor-trailers assembled in the country.

Castillo clarified that the benefit applies to individuals, corporations, small and medium-sized businesses, as well as large companies, provided the vehicles are new. He further explained that applications can be submitted before finalizing the purchase , allowing the incentive to be incorporated into the financial planning of the investment.

According to the official, applications related to approximately 270 trucks have been approved so far under this tax incentive scheme.

For his part, Luis Ruiz Hernández, head of the General Directorate of Federal Motor Transport (DGAF) of the SICT, explained that the guarantee program has a fund of 583 million pesos (mdp) corresponding to the Federal Motor Transport Development and Modernization Program.

With a leverage factor of 13.9% and a guarantee coverage of 70%, the scheme will allow the generation of a potential financing portfolio of up to seven billion 860 million pesos.

The loans will be aimed at micro and small transport operators with up to 30 vehicles. Loan amounts can reach up to 15 million pesos per beneficiary, with terms of up to 84 months for new vehicles and up to 60 months for used vehicles.

The minimum down payment will be 10% for new vehicles and 15% for used vehicles , while eligible used units must be no more than six years old.

Interest rates will be determined by each participating financial intermediary. Currently, institutions such as PACCAR Financial , TRATON Financial Services , BanBajío , and Bansi are part of the program , although authorities indicated they are continuing to work to incorporate more participants.

To access the financing, applicants must demonstrate a minimum of three years’ experience as Federal Public Service permit holders and have a fleet of no more than 30 vehicles. SICT’s validation of these requirements will take between three and five business days .

However, the challenge of vehicle renewal is not limited to the availability of credit .

Carriers previously consulted by T21 have indicated that factors such as payment cycles of up to 120 days, high operating costs, financing requirements and decreased demand in some segments continue to limit the investment capacity of small businesses.

According to data from the DGAF, micro and small businesses account for more than half of the national vehicle fleet and represent the majority of the economic units in the sector, so any renewal strategy depends largely on their financial viability.

At the same time, the industry faces an aging vehicle fleet, while the constant influx of imported used units continues to compete with the acquisition of new vehicles.

In this context, the new program represents an additional tool to facilitate fleet modernization; however, its real impact will depend on factors such as adoption by carriers , the financial conditions offered by intermediaries, and the sector’s ability to transform available financing into units actually circulating on the road.

In that context, the success of the program will not be measured solely by the amount of resources available or by the number of approved applications, but by its ability to translate into new units .

The question for the sector is whether these tools will accelerate vehicle renewal or if they will end up being just a first step in addressing a backlog that has accumulated over years.

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @Karina Quintero  /  @GrupoT21

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