Mexico’s heavy-truck exports plunge 22% as light-vehicle demand also dips
Mexico’s heavy-vehicle manufacturing sector took a sharp hit in November 2025, with production down 28% year over year and exports falling 21.9%, based on preliminary industry figures cited in the raw details provided.
The downturn was tied mainly to weak U.S. demand, along with recent tariff pressures and supply chain issues. For working drivers and fleets that rely on a steady flow of new trucks and parts into North America, these kinds of swings matter because they can affect availability, lead times, and pricing across the broader market.
The slowdown wasn’t limited to heavy trucks. Mexico’s light-vehicle side also softened in November. OEMs with manufacturing operations in Mexico exported 279,342 light vehicles, a 3.4% decline compared with the 289,309 shipped in the same month a year earlier.
INEGI data included in the source notes that overall vehicle exports dropped 3.45% to 279,342, while domestic sales slipped 0.34% to 148,361 units. The same summary said November extended a downward trend that ran from August through October, after growth in June (4.89%) and July (2.36%).
The domestic heavy-vehicle market was also pressured, with the provided material stating that wholesale sales fell by around 61% and retail sales by nearly 45%. The raw notes point to U.S. tariff policies as a main factor, emphasizing that more than 90% of Mexico’s heavy-vehicle truck output is tied to the U.S. market.
Trade policy has been a key backdrop. The source material references the U.S. announcing 25% tariffs on automobiles and auto parts on March 27, taking effect April 3, and notes Canada’s retaliatory measures and Mexico’s stated concern about the impact of the U.S. auto export tariffs.
For drivers, the larger point is that Mexico remains a major pillar in North American vehicle manufacturing and cross-border freight. When production and exports move sharply—especially in the heavy-truck segment—it can ripple into freight activity tied to assembly plants, parts suppliers, and dealership deliveries on both sides of the border.
- Heavy vehicles (Nov. 2025): production down 28%, exports down 21.9%
- Light vehicles (Nov. 2025): exports down 3.4% to 279,342 units
- Main drivers cited: weak U.S. demand, tariff pressures, supply chain issues