Car Production in Mexico Drops 15% in September

The production and export of light vehicles in Mexico fell by double digits last September, reaching percentage levels not seen since the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the tariffs the Mexican industry pays in the United States and the policy that eliminates incentives for electric cars.

According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), Mexico manufactured 302,803 vehicles in September 2026, representing a 15.3% decline from the 355,589 units produced last year, due to a drop in U.S. demand.

Meanwhile, auto exports fell to 11.85% in September 2026, with 277,369 units shipped, compared with the 314,656 vehicles shipped globally in 2025.

September production figures were significantly down for several of Mexico's largest automakers, including General Motors, which saw its assembly volume drop by 27.1%, followed by Nissan with a 26.3% decline, Ford with a 16.4% decrease, and Mazda with a 14% drop.

Meanwhile, there were declines in export performance, with Nissan being one of the hardest-hit brands, down 33%, followed by Ford at 13%, Honda at 17.7%, and General Motors at 7.5% in September.

Mexico has secured its current position as the leading supplier of cars to the United States. Although the auto market in the United States grew by 7% in the ninth month, shipments from Mexico were impacted by the country’s high tariff rate of 25%, compared to the 15% rates imposed by competitors such as Japan and South Korea.

For the cumulative period from January through September 2026, total production was 2,946,943 units, a 2.42% decrease compared to the 3,020,006 units assembled during the same period the previous year.

In the first nine months of the year, cumulative exports totaled 2,528,623 cars, a 1.50% decrease compared to the January–September 2025 period, according to INEGI.