Biden Finalizes Ban on Chinese Vehicles: Auto Week

This week in automotive news: Biden finalizes a ban on Chinese vehicles, Mexico achieves record vehicle production and sales, and Volvo announces a US$700 million truck plant. Other highlights include Honda’s Car of the Year win, rising competition in Mexico, and advancements in autonomous driving with MAN’s dataset release.

Start your engines—this is the Week in Automotive!

Biden Finalizes Ban on Chinese Vehicles Over Security Issues

The Biden administration is finalizing regulations that will effectively block most Chinese-made vehicles from entering the US market, citing national security concerns. These new rules, expected to roll out in the coming years, focus on Chinese vehicle software and hardware, particularly systems that connect vehicles to the internet. The goal is to prevent foreign adversaries, including China, from accessing sensitive data collected by connected vehicles.

Mexico's 2024 Heavy Vehicle Sales Surpass Projections by 37%

In 2024, Mexico's wholesale heavy vehicle sales hit a record high of 67,704 units, exceeding initial sales projections by 37.1% and surpassing the previous record set in 2023 by 22.3%. The National Association of Bus, Truck, and Tractor Manufacturers (ANPACT) attributed this surge to investments in and innovations surrounding sustainable vehicles, including those with EURO VI / EPA 10 engine technologies.

FOTON Mexico Delivers 20 S35 Trucks to Casas ARA in Puebla

FOTON Mexico has delivered 20 units of the S35 model, equipped with concrete mixing drums, to Casas ARA in Puebla. These trucks are commonly used in industries such as mining, metallurgy, public services (including waste collection), firefighting, construction, and specialized applications like cranes.

MAN Truck & Bus Releases Free Autonomous Driving Dataset

MAN Truck & Bus has released a dataset called MAN TruckScenes, comprising 747 driving scenes captured by its autonomous truck development units. The dataset is available free of charge to developers, universities, and scientific institutions working independently on autonomous driving technology. This initiative aims to support the advancement and standardization of data formats across the autonomous driving sector.

China's 2024 Vehicle Sales Reach 23 Million, Facing Overcapacity

China, the world’s largest automotive market, sold 23.1 million passenger vehicles in 2024, a 5.3% increase from the previous year, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). While demand for electric and hybrid vehicles reached record highs, with 47.2% of total sales, overcapacity among manufacturers is driving industry-wide reorganization. Local brands like BYD, Geely, and Xiaomi emerged as market leaders, yet challenges around profitability and fierce competition persist.

Mexico Auto Sales Profitability Drops Amid Rising Competition

The automotive industry in Mexico has faced challenging times, with increased competition from foreign brands, particularly Chinese manufacturers, leading to a significant decline in distributor profitability. Guillermo Rosales, president, Mexican Association of Automotive Distributors (AMDA), pointed out that dealers are under pressure to offer more competitive pricing and financing options to capture market share, resulting in a sharp drop in profits.

Honda Civic Hybrid Wins 2025 North American Car of the Year

The 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid has been named North American Car of the Year, marking the fourth time the Civic nameplate has won this award. Honda expects its hybrid variants to account for 40% of Civic sales this year. The announcement was made at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, where the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen ID. Buzz were also recognized in the Truck and Utility categories, respectively.

Mexico’s Olinia EV Plant: Which States Want to Host It?

The Olinia project, announced by President Claudia Sheinbaum, is set to create Mexico's first electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing ecosystem. Several states, including Mexico City (Iztapalapa), Jalisco, and Puebla, are competing to host key production facilities.

SICT Proposes Aerial IDs to Protect Freight on Federal Highways

Mexico's Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transport (SICT) has introduced a draft proposal to enhance the security of federal highways and bridges through an aerial vehicle identification system for freight transport vehicles. This initiative aims to combat vehicle theft and help authorities quickly locate stolen vehicles, improving safety for both drivers and cargo across the country’s road network.

Mexico Sets Auto Production Record in 2024, Surpassing 2017

Mexico's automotive sector reached historic milestones in 2024, producing nearly 4 million light vehicles and breaking records for both production and exports. According to INEGI, the country produced 3,989,403 light vehicles, surpassing the previous record of 3,933,154 units set in 2017. This figure represents a 5.6% increase compared to 2023.

Volvo Advancing US$700 Million Truck Plant in Monterrey by 2026

Volvo Group is moving forward with its plan to construct a US$700 million heavy-truck manufacturing facility in Monterrey, Mexico. The plant, slated to begin operations in 2026, will primarily serve markets in the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Latin America.

Mazda Mexico Hits 99,797 Units Sold in 2024, December Up 19%

In December, Mazda Mexico sold 8,677 units, marking a 19% increase compared to the same month in 2023. This contributed to Mazda's record annual sales in the country, with a total of 99,797 units sold in 2024, the highest sales volume for the brand in Mexico.