In August 2026, light vehicle production in Mexico fell by 1.43% year-over-year, marking the fourth consecutive monthly decline, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). Production totaled 344,940 units, a decrease from 349,951 units in August 2025.
The downturn was largely attributed to scheduled shutdowns and production adjustments at automakers, notably Ford and Nissan, with Nissan experiencing a significant 25.96% drop in output. Furthermore, Mercedes-Benz halted all operations in Mexico, contributing to the decline.
From January to August 2026, cumulative production reached 2,645,140 units, down 0.72% from 2025. Despite the overall production downturn, domestic sales increased by 4.6%, and exports rose by 1.26% in August, totaling 300,475 units, the second-highest for that month since 2018.
In the same January-August period, total export figures were stable, showing only a slight decline of 0.06%. Light trucks constituted 79.3% of total domestic production, while SUV manufacturing saw a year-to-date decrease of 7.2%. Conversely, pickups grew by 18.9%, highlighting their performance in the market.
North America remained the largest market for Mexican exports, with the U.S. accounting for 76.3% of total shipments. Noteworthy growth was observed in other markets, such as El Salvador, which saw an 885.2% increase in demand. The automotive industry continues to be a significant contributor to Mexico’s GDP, making up almost 4% of the national GDP and 20.5% of manufacturing GDP.
