Mexico to Adjust “Autos Chocolate” Program in 2026 Budget

Mexico’s federal government announced upcoming changes to the program allowing the regularization of vehicles imported irregularly from abroad, commonly known as “autos chocolate.” President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that adjustments will be included in the 2026 budget package following reports of abuses under the current framework.

“It will have modifications, and the Secretary of Finance will present them, because there have been abuses in this opening that was made,” Sheinbaum said on Sept. 5 during her daily press conference. The changes are expected to be detailed by Finance Minister Édgar Amador when the new budget package is presented to Congress on Sept. 8.

The program was introduced in 2021 under former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and later extended until Sept. 30, 2026. It allows owners of foreign vehicles—mainly from the United States—that entered the country without complying with customs or safety requirements to legalize them by paying a fixed fee. The process costs MX$2,500 (US$145) per vehicle and requires meeting specific conditions, including proof of ownership, a valid Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) starting with digits corresponding to Mexico, the US, or Canada, and no record of theft or prior registration.

According to the Ministry of Finance (SHCP), as of mid-2025 more than 2.5 million vehicles had been regularized, generating approximately MX$6.3 billion (US$371 million) in revenue, earmarked for road-paving projects in participating municipalities. Officials also note that the initiative provides legal certainty for owners and helps authorities track vehicles to prevent their use in crimes.

However, authorities now acknowledge flaws in the system. Sheinbaum did not specify the abuses detected but confirmed the program has been exploited. Analysts and industry representatives have highlighted fraudulent imports of vehicles that fail to meet legal or safety standards, as well as cases of tax evasion in the payment of fees and documentation.