Mexico’s heavy-truck exports plunge 22% as light-vehicle demand also dips
Mexico’s heavy-vehicle sector turned in a sharp downturn in November 2025, with production down 28% year over year and exports falling 21.9%, according to preliminary figures cited in the provided information.
The decline was tied mainly to weak U.S. demand and recent tariff pressures, alongside supply chain issues. For working drivers, that matters because Mexico-built tractors and components play a major role in North American freight, and most of those trucks are shipped north.
The slowdown wasn’t limited to exports. The domestic heavy-vehicle market was also hit, with wholesale sales dropping around 61% and retail sales nearly 45%. The raw notes attribute much of the pressure to U.S. tariff policy, and emphasize that more than 90% of Mexico’s heavy-vehicle truck exports typically go to the United States.
Light vehicles also lost ground in November. Exports of light vehicles from OEMs operating in Mexico fell 3.45% to 279,342 vehicles, and domestic sales slipped 0.34% to 148,361 units. The data source cited, INEGI, noted that November extended a slide running from August through October, after earlier gains of 4.89% in June and 2.36% in July.
In Mexico’s light-vehicle mix, light trucks represented 77.2% of total production, while passenger cars accounted for 22.8%. The information provided also points to weak demand in the U.S. as a major driver behind the light-vehicle softness.
Tariffs have been a recurring theme across the North American auto and truck supply chain. The notes reference that President Trump announced universal 25% tariffs on automobiles and automobile parts on March 27, taking effect April 3, and that Canada responded with a 25% tariff on U.S. cars and trucks imported into Canada. Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, also described the U.S. export tariffs as a concern and said she hoped to continue discussions with the U.S.
For drivers watching freight volumes, the bigger picture is that Mexico remains a major manufacturing hub even as 2025 sees turbulence. The background included here notes Mexico’s industry hit historic milestones in 2024 and has been ranked as the world’s fifth-largest vehicle producer, underscoring how changes in U.S. demand and trade policy can ripple quickly into production schedules, cross-border freight, and parts availability.
- Heavy vehicles (Nov. 2025): Production down 28%; exports down 21.9% amid weak U.S. demand, tariff pressure, and supply chain issues.
- Light vehicles (Nov. 2025): Exports down 3.45% to 279,342; domestic sales down 0.34% to 148,361; downward trend since August.
- Production mix: Light trucks made up 77.2% of Mexico’s light-vehicle production.
Separately, the provided notes also flagged safety concerns on Mexico’s freight corridors, citing a 60% surge in truck crashes and a 238% spike in distraction, adding another operational challenge for fleets and drivers moving loads through key routes.