The start of 2026 confirms that the heavy vehicle market has not yet managed to reverse the adjustment trend shown throughout 2025. After a year marked by the slowdown in fleet renewal , the caution of carriers and a regulatory environment in transition, wholesale sales began the year with widespread declines, particularly in the most important segments within the industry.
During January, wholesale sales totaled 1,677 units in January 2026, representing a drop of 33.3% compared to the same month in 2025, when 2,515 units were sold, according to the most recent Statistical Bulletin of the National Association of Producers of Buses, Trucks and Tractor-Trailers (ANPACT) .
The decline was concentrated primarily in the cargo segment , whose sales totaled 1,458 units , a 35.4% decrease compared to the 2,258 units registered a year earlier. Within this segment, fifth-wheel tractors reported the largest contraction, with a 52.5% drop , falling from 1,668 units in January 2025 to 793 units in the same month of 2026 , while Class 8 trucks declined 32.2% , with 356 units .
In contrast, some classes showed progress, such as Class 4 , which grew 494.7% , and Class 6 with an annual increase of 388.6% , although their volume is still limited compared to the larger segments.
In the passenger segment , wholesale sales reached 219 units in January 2026 , which represented a decrease of 14.8% compared to the 257 units of January 2025.
In the retail channel , the performance was even more negative. During January of this year, 2,049 units were sold , a contraction of 45.6% compared to the 3,765 registered in the same month of 2025.
By segment, cargo totaled 1,708 units placed during the first month of 2026 , representing a drop of 49.1% compared to January 2025 , mainly due to fifth wheel tractors , which decreased by 58.5% , and Class 8 with a decline of 45.5 percent .
Passenger traffic reached 341 units sold in January 2026 , a 17% year-over-year decrease. The largest declines were observed in Class 7 (-33.5%) and Class 8 (-40.7%) , although intercity buses reported a 29.9% increase compared to January 2025 .
In this context, the beginning of 2026 points to a prolonged adjustment period, in which recovery will depend on greater regulatory clarity and better conditions for fleet renewal.
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