Rogelio Arzate, executive president of the National Association of Bus, truck and tractocamion producers (ANPACT), said that the heavy vehicle industry requires government support to continue as a pillar of the Mexican economy, and thus overcome the fall of sales, export and production in the first quarter.
“The automotive industry of heavy vehicles will remain as a pillar of the Mexican economy and as a worldwide leader, if you have the support of all the dependencies related to mobility and transport,” he said.
He added that the administration of President Claudia Sheinbaum has recognized the urgency of modernizing the units with which thousands of people and goods are transported daily, but it is necessary to improve the road and energy infrastructure, as well as be certain in the strategic and quality supply of the ultra -low sulfur diesel (Duba).
He said that it is necessary to have incentives to chatarize obsolete vehicles and give way to the renewal of the fleet, “which in addition to favoring users and efficient service will result in improvements to the environment and public health.”
According to the business leader, the Mexico Plan is a fundamental government strategy for affiliates in the ANPACT and the rest of the sectors, since it promotes national production, investment in energy sector and in road infrastructure and strengthens the internal market with the brand made in Mexico.
He said that the 15 cargo and passage units shipowners represented by the ANPACT are companies established in the national territory, which generate economic employment and spill, and in foreign trade operations meet the requirements established in trade agreements such as TMEC.
He declared that steel and aluminum tariffs affect sectors, so dialogue should prevail before taking some reciprocal measure.
He reiterated his support for the Federal Government, especially the Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, who has headed the negotiations.
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He commented that in the first quarter, the sale of heavy vehicles added 7,930 units, 39.3 percent lower compared to 13 thousand 071 placed in the same period last year.
“This also means the lowest level for a first quarter since 2021, when 6,546 units were marketed,” he explained.
He added that the decline is the result of a comparison with a record year and the early purchase effect derived from the entry into force of new environmental regulations.
Between January and March 41 thousand 311 units were assembled, which represented a decrease of 21.8 percent compared to the same period of 2024. In that period more than 52 thousand 809 units were manufactured.
“This contraction also responds to a rearrangement after a period of great dynamism. The industry is adjusting the manufacturing rhythms before a demand that today shows more mesurated decisions,” he said.
On exports, the President of ANPACT stressed that in the first quarter they added 33 thousand 808 units, a decrease of 19.7 percent compared to the same period last year
“It responds to the uncertainty generated by the commercial environment with the United States, since carriers are delaying their fleet purchase decisions.”
“We consider it a good time in Mexico to buy units with cleaner technologies,” he said.
He stressed the importance of strengthening the North American region to keep Mexico, the United States and Canada as one of the most fruitful free trade zones in the world, especially before the current context, since from its perspective ties must be narrowed to face the growth of Asian presence in the continent.
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“Robusting the domestic market and guaranteeing employment generation has never been more prevailing, so we agree with the highest agent in force coordination between authorities, strengthen industrial and energy policy, in addition to raising normative conditions and certainty to attract public investment,” he said.
“While today’s volatility conditions prevail in the markets, heavy vehicles are capital goods that will continue to be necessary for all productive activities and industries on both sides of the border, so that the downward figures will be transitory if we execute and promote the domestic market and the sector from Mexico,” he added.
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