Mexico’s Light Vehicle Sales Rise 0.3% as USMCA Review Looms

After five consecutive months of declines, new light vehicle sales in Mexico rose 0.3% in September to 117,182 units, according to INEGI data. The growth comes amid ongoing uncertainty over the upcoming review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and US tariffs on imported vehicles.

“September sales exceeded those of the same month in 2019, 16.3% higher than the 100,757 units sold then,” said Guillermo Rosales Zárate, CEO, Mexican Association of Automotive Dealers (AMDA). He noted that consumer prices rose 3.74% year-over-year, while automotive prices increased 1.50% in the first half of September 2025.

Year-to-date through September, the industry reported 1,075,188 vehicle deliveries, a slight decline of 0.6% (5,987 units) compared with the same period in 2024. Rosales Zárate emphasized that sales remain 12.5% above pre-COVID 2019 levels.

Among manufacturers, Nissan led September sales with 20,872 units, up 11.5% and capturing an 18.3% market share. Ford sold 4,128 vehicles, a 12.6% increase; General Motors reported 15,177 units, down 6.3%; and Stellantis posted a 9.3% decline. Chinese automaker Changan recorded 2,052 sales, a 253.2% increase year-over-year, while JAC and MG Motor saw declines of 16.6% and 16.9%, respectively.

Gerardo Gómez, CEO, J.D. Power Mexico, noted the industry is further affected by unreported or partially reported sales, estimating a shortfall of roughly 100,000 units. “Some brands are new or semi-new—three to four years in the market—and some do not report,” he said.

Industry executives cited USMCA uncertainty and current tariffs as factors affecting pricing and supply strategies. “There is total uncertainty; we cannot develop strategies based on current rules because they can change,” Gómez said. Some automakers may pass tariffs onto consumers, while others may absorb costs, influencing purchasing decisions.