Mexico's heavy-duty truck manufacturing sector posted its strongest export performance of 2026 in May, according to data from Mexico's National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). Production reached 14,543 heavy-duty trucks and buses, down just 0.6% year-over-year, while exports totaled 11,938 units, an 8.5% decline from May 2025.
Despite the annual declines, industry leaders pointed to improving momentum. "May has been our best month of the year in terms of production and exports," said Rogelio Arzate, executive president of Mexico's National Association of Bus, Truck and Tractor-Trailer Producers (Anpact), during a June 9 news conference. Exports climbed from about 5,000 units in January to nearly 12,000 in May, making May the strongest month of the year for both metrics, according to Arzate.
US Dominance and Export Diversification
The US continued to dominate demand for heavy-duty vehicles assembled in Mexico. From January through May, Mexico exported 45,530 heavy-duty vehicles, down 18.4% compared with the same period in 2025. Of those, 42,078 units — 92.4% — were shipped to the US, while Canada accounted for 2,108 units and Colombia received 817 vehicles, according to Anpact. Arzate noted that exports to Colombia, Guatemala, and Ecuador have shown growth this year, helping diversify Mexico's customer base.
For May alone, exports to the US totaled 11,043 units, down 9.1% from the same month last year.
Top Manufacturers' Performance
Anpact's 16 member companies include Freightliner, Kenworth, Navistar, Hino, International, DINA, MAN SE, Mercedes-Benz, Isuzu, Scania, Shacman Trucks, Foton, Cummins, Detroit Diesel, Daimler Buses Mexico, and Volkswagen Buses. In May, Freightliner was the top truck producer and exporter, manufacturing 9,348 trucks (up 14% year-over-year) and exporting 8,775 units (down 10.7% year-over-year). International Trucks Inc. was the No. 2 producer and exporter, manufacturing 3,519 trucks (down 20.4% year-over-year) and exporting 2,926 units (down 34.1% year-over-year).
| Manufacturer | May Production | YoY Change | May Exports | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freightliner | 9,348 | +14% | 8,775 | -10.7% |
| International | 3,519 | -20.4% | 2,926 | -34.1% |
Through the first five months of 2026, Mexico produced 55,614 heavy-duty vehicles, down 17.3% year over year. Cargo vehicles represented 97.5% of total production, underscoring Mexico's role as a manufacturing hub for North America's freight transportation sector. The vast majority of exported heavy-duty vehicles were diesel-powered.
Domestic Market: Wholesale Up, Retail Down
Mexico's domestic heavy-duty truck market presented a mixed picture. Wholesale heavy-duty vehicle sales rose 20.1% year-over-year in May to 2,841 units, led by an 11.6% increase in cargo vehicles and an 81.5% jump in passenger buses, according to INEGI. However, retail sales fell 15.6% to 2,840 units during the month and were down 26.3% year-over-year through the first five months of 2026. INEGI data show dealers sold 4,600 fewer heavy-duty vehicles during January-May than during the same period in 2025.
Guillermo Rosales, president of the Mexican Association of Automotive Distributors (AMDA), said the persistent decline in retail sales indicates that demand for heavy commercial vehicles remains under pressure.
For manufacturing executives and plant managers, the May data signal a cautious recovery. While production is nearly back to 2025 levels after a weak start, the sharp drop in retail sales suggests that end-user demand has not fully recovered. The strong wholesale channel could be driven by fleet replenishment or pre-buying ahead of potential policy changes, but sustained growth will depend on improving retail confidence and expanding export markets beyond the US.
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