Aguascalientes Maintains 2nd Place in Mexico Auto Production

Aguascalientes closed 2025 as Mexico’s second-largest producer of light vehicles, assembling 594,717 units, according to state-level production data released in January 2026. Output declined 1.72% compared with 2024, yet the state maintained its position behind Guanajuato and reinforced its role as a core manufacturing hub for the national automotive industry. Production was concentrated in three final assembly plants—Nissan A1, Nissan A2, and COMPAS—which together operated at an average installed capacity utilization rate of 65.31%.

Industry officials and company statements indicate that 2025 was not only a year of volume stabilization but also a structural transition. Nissan confirmed an expansion of its A1 plant to add pickup truck production, a move expected to reshape the state’s manufacturing profile in the coming years. The company said the decision is part of a broader realignment of its North American footprint.

Nissan A1 remained the largest and most utilized facility in the state, producing 345,439 vehicles with a capacity utilization rate of 92.12%, the highest among local plants. Production included 199,314 Kicks, 117,370 Versa, and 28,755 March units. Nissan described A1 as “one of the most efficient Nissan plants globally,” supporting its selection for the next phase of industrial transformation announced in December 2025.

The transformation includes an expansion of more than 120,000 square meters and the introduction of pickup production, a segment not previously manufactured in Aguascalientes. Nissan said the project will create 1,300 direct and 4,000 indirect jobs, strengthening the company’s presence in Mexico and positioning Aguascalientes for a new stage of higher-value production.

Nissan A2 produced 183,245 Sentra sedans in 2025, operating at 75.10% capacity. Despite structural pressures on compact sedans in North America, Nissan said the Sentra remains “one of the most stable export models for Nissan Mexico,” sustaining solid operational levels.

The COMPAS complex, operated by Infiniti and Mercedes-Benz, produced 66,033 vehicles at 28.71% capacity, including 57,063 Mercedes-Benz GLB, 7,519 Infiniti QX50, and 1,451 Infiniti QX55 units. Lower utilization reflected global adjustments in premium compact vehicle production and the planned end of operations at the complex in 2026.

Beyond final assembly, Aguascalientes’ production is supported by a broad industrial ecosystem. According to the 2025 Automotive Industry Mapping by Cluster Industrial B2B, the state generated US$5.204 billion in auto parts production and hosts 296 automotive companies, including 120 Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 plants. The automotive sector accounts for 36.7% of the state’s GDP, with 85% of total exports linked to automotive activity, supporting an estimated 159,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Investment activity in 2025 positioned Aguascalientes as the fifth-largest automotive investment destination nationwide, attracting US$211.21 million in direct investment and US$157.95 million in new industrial parks. Ten new projects generated 2,335 jobs and added more than 110,000 square meters of plant space. Key initiatives included PROMA Group, NBHX Trim, UTAS-NOVA, Tenneco, and Judd Wire, expanding capabilities in interiors, structures, electronics, lighting, and other components.

Nissan’s A1 expansion was the most significant announcement of the year, reflecting its global restructuring, including the transfer of production from Argentina and the closure of operations in Cuernavaca. “Aguascalientes is consolidating as one of Nissan’s most strategic nodes in Latin America,” the company said.