Mexico's Road Transport Sector Accelerates Fleet Renewal

Despite the contraction in the heavy vehicle market, the road transport sector is in a favorable period to accelerate fleet renewal, supported by new financing schemes, public incentives, and regulatory adjustments. This was stated by Rogelio Arzate, Executive President of the National Association of Bus, Truck and Tractor Producers (ANPACT), during the first quarter report. «The improvement in guarantees will facilitate the purchase of both new and used units,» he explained. Regulation and order in the market The package of measures also includes updating reference values for imported used vehicles, to avoid distortions that affect the value of units in the national market. «It is very important to avoid distortions in the market and for the price of units not to devalue. This protects both sellers and those seeking to acquire a vehicle in better conditions,» Arzate noted. Additionally, the creation of a new Official Mexican Standard (NOM) on safety devices for this type of vehicles is contemplated, which must be focused on implementing devices that improve operator protection and raise road safety standards. A strategic sector The relevance of road transport in the national economy is undeniable: it moves more than 80% of the goods in the country. To this end, improvements in guarantee schemes and the release of resources are contemplated, which will allow expanding the base of beneficiaries. These include: the tax incentive that will allow accelerated depreciation for vehicle purchases and the reactivation of the NAFIN-SICT guarantee scheme, which will be essential for financing heavy vehicles for the benefit of micro and small transport businesses. At this point, the ANPACT leader emphasized that these mechanisms will be decisive for the so-called 'truck man,' a segment that has historically faced greater barriers to financing the acquisition of units. «The truck man will be very well supported by these programs. In this context, his modernization responds not only to economic criteria, but also to environmental and safety ones. The incorporation of more efficient units would allow reducing emissions, optimizing operational costs, and improving road conditions, key factors for Mexico's logistics competitiveness.» In this scenario, ANPACT called on cargo and passenger transporters and dealers to capitalize on the current conditions. «There are real opportunities and it is worth staying in communication to take advantage of them,» concluded Rogelio Arzate. With aligned incentives, greater access to financing, and regulatory adjustments underway, the challenge for the heavy vehicle industry will be to translate these conditions into a sustained recovery that allows reversing the productive decline and moving towards a more modern and safe vehicle fleet. In exports, the contraction was 5.9 percent monthly and 30.3 percent in the quarter. Meanwhile, Guillermo Rosales, Executive President of the Mexican Association of Automobile Distributors (AMDA), reported that in the month of March, the third negative annual rate of the year was recorded, at -18.56 percent compared to the same month of 2025, reaching a retail sales level of 2,901 units, 24.8 percent lower than the same month, but of 2019. While the accumulated retail figures were 7,277 units, presenting an annual reduction of -34.98 percent, which represented 27.1 percent lower compared to the same period of 2019. However, despite these setbacks—even below pre-pandemic levels—the industry is betting that new public instruments, such as the recently announced 'Immediate Attention Program for the Protection of the Heavy Vehicle Industry,' will allow reversing the trend. Financing and access for the 'truck man' One of the pillars of said Program, indicated Rogelio Arzate during the conference, is to strengthen access to credit for the entire guild, especially small transporters. He highlighted that the current context is 'key' to detonating the modernization of the vehicle fleet, despite the weak performance recorded at the beginning of 2026. «Today there are great opportunities to renew the fleet, both for cargo and for passengers; this is the moment,» affirmed the executive when referring to the measures promoted by the federal government headed by Claudia Sheinbaum. Contrasting indicators The figures reflect a mixed scenario. According to the latest ANPACT report, in March 2026, wholesale sales reached 2,984 units, a 6.7 percent annual growth; however, in the accumulated first quarter, 6,496 units were placed, an 18.1 percent decrease compared to the same period of the previous year, evidencing a still pressured market. Production registered 12,617 units in March, with a 6.6 percent decrease compared to the same month, but of 2025, while in the January-March accumulated production reached 28,765 units, representing a 30.4 percent drop against the results of the same period in 2025.