According to FreightWaves, Mexico’s heavy-duty truck and bus production rose 7.6% year over year in June 2026 to 15,262 units, marking the first broad monthly recovery for the sector since August 2024.
June rebound across key metrics
Exports of Mexican-made heavy-duty trucks climbed 3.2% year over year to 12,730 units, with nearly all shipments destined for the United States. Wholesale sales surged 45.5% to 3,278 units, driven primarily by freight transportation equipment. Retail sales also turned positive, rising 3.9% to 3,194 units — the first such gain in 2026 after 17 consecutive months of decline, according to Guillermo Rosales, president of the Mexican Automobile Dealers Association (AMDA).
“June closed with clear signs of recovery,” said Rogelio Arzate, president of the National Association of Bus, Truck and Tractor-Trailer Producers (Anpact), during a news conference on June 9. The June performance marked the first time since August 2024 that Anpact recorded simultaneous year-over-year growth in wholesale sales, production, exports, and retail sales.
Top producers drive gains
Freightliner remained Mexico’s top heavy-duty truck producer and exporter in June, manufacturing 9,379 units — a 9.6% increase from June 2025 — and exporting 8,745 units, up 6% year over year. International Trucks Inc. ranked second, producing 4,181 trucks (11.6% YoY growth) and exporting 3,685 units (6.7% YoY increase).
The 16-member Anpact includes global manufacturers such as Kenworth, Navistar, Hino, Mercedes-Benz, Scania, Isuzu, Daimler Buses Mexico, and Volkswagen Buses. Collectively, these companies already meet a regional content value of 64% under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and are on track to reach the treaty’s 70% requirement by 2027.
First-half totals still lag
Despite June’s gains, cumulative performance for January–June 2026 remains below 2025 levels. Total production stood at 70,876 units, down 13.0% year over year. Exports totaled 58,260 units, a 14.5% decline. Wholesale sales edged up 3.1% to 14,979 units, while retail sales fell 21.8% to 16,072 units.
Cristina Vázquez, AMDA’s coordinator of economic studies, noted that June retail sales increased 12.5% from May — a sign of stabilization — though first-half figures remain below both 2025 and pre-pandemic benchmarks.
USMCA and market distortions
Anpact warned that long-term investment decisions hinge on the future of the USMCA. Arzate urged policymakers to preserve existing rules of origin during the upcoming USMCA review, citing the agreement’s role in making North America “one of the world’s most competitive heavy-duty truck manufacturing hubs.” He emphasized that certainty in trade policy is essential to sustaining momentum: “The positive results observed in wholesale sales during June confirm the industry’s ability to respond to market needs. To maintain this trend, it is essential to have a framework of certainty that strengthens North America’s productive integration.”
The association also raised concerns about imports of used heavy-duty trucks from the U.S., estimating that for every 100 new heavy-duty vehicles sold in Mexico, 55 used trucks enter the market — often undervalued, distorting domestic pricing. Anpact is collaborating with Mexico’s Finance Ministry to establish reference pricing to curb this practice.
Source: FreightWaves
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
