Background on Rogelio Arzate and ANPACT
Rogelio Arzate, the president of the National Association of Bus, Truck, and Tractor Producers (ANPACT), has called for accelerated renewal of heavy vehicles in the national market as a recovery factor for the heavy vehicle sector.
ANPACT represents key players in Mexico’s transportation industry, making Arzate’s statement significant for understanding the current state and future prospects of this sector.
August Data and Declines
According to Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi), production, exports, and wholesale sales of trucks in Mexico experienced substantial declines in August 2025 compared to the same month in 2024:
- Production: Down by 62.4% to 8,187 units
- Exports: Down by 59.4% to 6,605 units
- Wholesale Sales: Down by 59.8% to an unspecified number of units
Impact on the US Market
The United States, Mexico’s primary destination for truck exports, faces tariffs that have led to a 59.2% decline in Mexican truck sales to this market during August 2025, with only 6,182 units exported compared to 15,165 units in the previous year.
Arzate’s Call for Renewal and Incentives
Arzate emphasized the need for swift vehicle renewal in Mexico’s market through financial schemes and tax incentives to replace outdated, unsafe, and polluting units.
He highlighted that the domestic market also faces losses, with August 2025 marking the eighth consecutive annual decline, with a 37.90% drop in retail sales compared to August 2024, reaching 3,356 units, according to the Mexican Association of Automobile Dealers (AMDA).
Wholesale sales also dropped by 59.8% compared to August 2024, with 2,541 units sold, as reported by ANPACT.
Year-to-Date Performance
From January to August 2025, the total production of trucks was 99,306 vehicles, marking a 31.6% decrease compared to the same period in 2024.
The heavy vehicle industry exported 82,620 units during the same annual accumulation, a 25.8% decrease compared to the corresponding period in 2024 when 111,398 trucks were shipped.
Economic Context
Cristina Vázquez, the economic studies coordinator at AMDA, confirmed that lower growth predictions for the Mexican economy and negative performances in fixed capital investment in machinery and equipment (-11.4% in June 2025 compared to 2024) and business confidence in transportation equipment (-10.3% in August 2025 compared to 2024) reflect a phase of reduced activity in the sector.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main issue affecting Mexico’s heavy vehicle sector? Presiones arancelarias (tariff pressures) and volatilidad en el comercio internacional (volatility in international trade) are the primary challenges.
- What is Rogelio Arzate’s proposal to revive the sector? Arzate advocates for accelerated vehicle renewal through financial schemes and tax incentives to replace outdated, unsafe, and polluting units.
- How have exports to the US been impacted by tariffs? Tariffs imposed on the US market have led to a 59.2% decline in Mexican truck sales to this market during August 2025.
- What is the year-to-date performance of Mexico’s heavy vehicle sector? Total truck production from January to August 2025 was 99,306 vehicles, a 31.6% decrease compared to the same period in 2024.
- What does the negative performance in fixed capital investment signify? It reflects a phase of reduced activity in the sector, as per Cristina Vázquez from AMDA.
