Decline in Consumption Slows Down Auto Dealers in Querétaro

In the first half of the year, 19,924 new vehicles were sold in Querétaro, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 3.7%, according to Laura Rodriguez Miranda, the state president of the Mexican Association of Automotive Distributors (AMDA).

In July alone, sales fell 10.r% on an annualized basis, with 3,038 units sold, placing Querétaro in ninth place among the 32 states.

This shows that, for automotive distributors, 2026 has been a very challenging year, as annual sales figures remain in negative territory.

Although the sector managed to recover last year from the decline caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, 2026 was a difficult year due to the economic downturn.

“The industry faced two difficult years following the pandemic, but last year we managed to turn that downward trend around. This year has been challenging, not only for the automotive industry but for the entire country, due to the decline in spending; people are being very careful about where they spend their loans or their money, and that affects us all,” Rodriguez Miranda said.

Cumulative sales for 2026 rank Querétaro as the 12th-largest market among the 32 states, accounting for 2.4% of the Mexican market, while the previous year it remained in the top 10. Of the units sold this year, 58.8% were trucks and multipurpose vehicles, and 41.2% were passenger cars.

“It’s been a very difficult year. Last year, we were ranked ninth or tenth in sales; today, we sometimes fall out of the top ten—for example, we’re currently in 12th place,” she said.

The state president of the AMDA also noted that, following a slow first half of the year, the sector saw an improvement linked to the opening of new dealerships. She pointed out that automotive dealerships generate 14,000 direct jobs and contribute nearly US$22.4 million annually through the collection of the New Automobile Tax (ISAN).

In contrast to the overall decline in sales, he reported that Querétaro remained among the top performers due to double-digit growth in sales of hybrid and electric vehicles.