Heavy Vehicle Industry Improves in April but Challenges Continue
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Heavy Vehicle Industry Improves in April but Challenges Continue

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Sofía Garduño By Sofía Garduño | Journalist & Industry Analyst - Tue, 05/17/2022 - 16:22

The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) reported an increase in sales, production and exports of heavy vehicles in April 2022 compared to April 2021. INEGI’s information was collected from the companies affiliated to the National Association of Producers of Buses, Trucks and Tractors (ANPACT) and LDR Solutions.

 

“The positive progress within the fourth month of the year came during a period of desynchronization of global supply chains of semiconductors and other components. This supply chain issues mainly originated from the blockage of Asian ports,” said Miguel Elizalde, Executive President, APACT, as reported by El Financiero.

 

INEGI’s Administrative Registry of Heavy Vehicles of the Automotive Industry (RAIAVP) shows that between Jan. and April 2022, 11,801 heavy vehicles were sold at retail, representing a 19.72 percent increase compared to 2021. Also, 3,308 heavy vehicles were sold wholesale during the same period. Freightliner was the brand that sold most heavy vehicles at both retail and wholesale. In Feb. 2022, companies within the RAIAVP sold a total of 3,275 heavy vehicles at retail and 3,370 at wholesale in Mexico.

 

Production of heavy vehicles also improved in April 2022, with 2,591 more units produced than in April 2021, representing an year-over-year increase of 20.29 percent. During Jan. and April 2022, 98.2 percent of the production of heavy vehicles was concentrated on cargo vehicles, with a total of 59,361 units. The remainder 1,109 units were passenger vehicles. Total production of heavy vehicles during Jan. and April 2022 amounted to 60,470 units. During the same period Freightliner, International and Kenworth were the manufacturers that produced most heavy vehicles in Mexico.

 

Heavy vehicle exports also increased in that month, with 1,564 more units than in April 2021, an increase of 14.73 percent. Between Jan. and April 2022, 94.7 percent of the 12,183 heavy vehicles exported headed to the US. Canada was the second country to receive most Mexican heavy vehicle exports with 2.4 percent, followed by Colombia with 1.5 percent. Freightliner, International and Kenworth also lead heavy vehicles exports.

 

The recovery of the heavy vehicle national market is opening the door for manufacturers to bring to Mexico the latest technology in urban, interurban and coach buses. Kenworth and DAF, for example, introduced the KW55 truck to the Mexican market in early May 2022. This vehicle was awarded a Good Design Award, one of the most prestigious design and innovation recognitions in the industry, as reported by MBN.

 

However, the heavy market vehicle is not yet fully recovered. “Economic reactivation has not been materialized yet, as the industry continues to face challenges. The manufacturing of some components is not completely synchronized. What we understood about “just in time” is not being fulfilled anymore,” said Elizalde. Overall, the automotive industry seems to be shifting from a “just in time” manufacturing model to a “just in case” view, according to Francisco Ríos, Business Director, Enterprise Singapore.

Photo by:   Pixabay, Tama66

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