CDMX Faces Backlog in Removing Abandoned Vehicles

Mexico City authorities face growing criticism as abandoned and confiscated vehicles continue to overrun public spaces, despite the launch of the 2024-2030 Scrap Program (Programa de Chatarrización). The initiative, designed to remove inoperative vehicles from city streets, is lagging behind schedule.

In early February, Mexico City’s Attorney General, Bertha Alcalde, pledged to clear streets of vehicles linked to criminal investigations by the end of the year. However, the effort faces significant challenges, including a backlog of approximately 750,000 ongoing investigations, which hinders vehicle removal. 

“The government must be transparent about the condition of vehicle depots and the resources needed to address this issue,” said José Álvarez, legal and criminal policy expert, UNAM, in an interview with Reforma. He emphasized that the problem will persist without a clear timeline and a commitment to reducing delays in case processing.

Despite legal provisions imposing fines for obstructing sidewalks, pedestrian zones, and green spaces, weak enforcement has allowed the problem to persist. Álvarez attributed this to "institutional tolerance," explaining that authorities often avoid action to prevent potential conflicts.

The situation is particularly severe in boroughs like Gustavo A. Madero, Cuauhtémoc, and Azcapotzalco, where vehicles abandoned by the Attorney General’s Office (FGJ) block roads and sidewalks. For instance, outside the Public Prosecutor’s Office GAM-02, 115 vehicles occupy two of four lanes on Congreso de la Unión Avenue, forcing pedestrians onto the road.

Residents report that these abandoned vehicles pose safety risks. In one incident, a fire broke out after an electrical cable ignited trash and fuel near a cluster of vehicles, requiring community intervention. Similar issues exist on Avenida Jardin in Azcapotzalco, where about 200 vehicles block roads and medians, and near the FGJ headquarters in the Doctores neighborhood, where 50 cars clog Doctor Lavista Street.

The Mexico City government continues to push the Scrap Program, which has scrapped 43,796 vehicles since its inception in 2019. During the launch of the 2024-2030 phase on Mar. 5, Pablo Vázquez, Director, Ministry of Citizen Security (SSC), stressed the need for interagency cooperation. However, statistics indicate that progress remains slow. While 31,974 abandoned vehicles have been transferred to depots since 2019, tens of thousands more remain on the streets.

“We have made progress, but thousands of cars are still left,” admitted Clara Brugada, head of government, CDMX. Despite a 30% increase in vehicle removals during the first two months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, boroughs like Iztapalapa continue to contribute thousands of abandoned vehicles to the backlog.

To improve efficiency, the city has invested in additional tow trucks. Vázquez Camacho noted that the Ministry of Citizen Security has acquired 18 trucks funded by scrap metal sales, with more expected soon. However, with 26 vehicle depots already overwhelmed, authorities face mounting pressure to accelerate removals and prevent further congestion.