Regularized Vehicles Sales to Surpass those of New Ones: AMDA

Automotive experts forecast that the sale of used imported vehicles will surpass the sale of new units during 2022, as an estimated 1.2 million foreign automobiles are entering Mexico during this year. About 1 million of these vehicles are non-certified and only 200,000 of them comply with custom regulations. 

During a press conference, the Mexican Association of the Automotive Industry (AMIA) and the National Auto Parts Industry (INA) stated that the Regularization Decree has not achieved the original objective of reducing the number of unregistered vehicles “because there is no governmental interest in ending vehicle smuggling on the Northern Border,” reads AMDA’s press release. The association highlighted the lack of interest in correcting this law, saying that it is affecting the sales of new vehicles from automotive companies settled in Mexico. 

“There has been no progress in the relationship between the automotive distribution sector and the Federal Government on this issue. The offices of the Ministries of Public Safety and Citizen Protection, Public Vehicle Registry, Interior and Economy have remained closed to the formal approach made by the automotive industry represented by AMDA, AMIA, ANPACT and INA,” said Guillermo Rosales, Executive President, AMDA. 

Rosales also said that the Minister of Economy’s decision to cancel de Mexican Official Standard (NOM) 236 is a step backwards in the improvement of safety conditions in Mexico’s vehicle fleet, as the technical inspection of the mechanical conditions of light vehicles below 3.8 tons is no longer obligatory. He added that the decision also contradicts the objectives of the General Law on Mobility and Road Safety, which is to be implemented throughout the country. 

“Beyond the observation of possible flaws regarding the procedure that was carried out to cancel such NOM, the consequences are very negative for coexistence, safety and above all to reduce the risk of accidents. At AMDA, we are immediately making a legal assessment of all the antecedents of its cancellation,” said Rosales. 

This is not the first time representatives of the Mexican automotive industry have expressed their concern about the regularization program, which was extended in September 2022.  AMDA also highlighted that this decree increases the vulnerability of the Public Vehicle Registry (REPUVE), which has been unable to meet the demand of people who want to register their vehicles, as reported by MBN.