Mexico's Heavy-Duty Truck Exports to US Surge in August

Mexico's heavy-duty truck exports to the United States roared back in August 2026. Preliminary data from Mexico's National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) shows exports surged 116.7% year-over-year to 14,310 units.

Production also doubled, reaching 16,389 trucks and buses. This represents a sharp monthly rebound from earlier in the year.

Year-to-Date Figures Show Modest Growth

The August surge contrasts with more modest growth for the first eight months of 2026. From January through August, manufacturers produced 101,940 heavy-duty vehicles, a 2.6% increase from the same period in 2025. Exports totaled 85,687 units, up 3.7%.

Cargo vehicles dominated production, accounting for 97.6% of the total output through August. Passenger buses made up the remaining 2.4%.

The United States is the overwhelming destination for these exports. Through August, Mexico shipped 79,261 heavy-duty vehicles north, representing 92.5% of all exports. Canada and Colombia followed distantly.

Major Manufacturers Drive the Rebound

Freightliner and International led the August production surge. Freightliner's output more than doubled, while International's production also saw a sharp increase.

Freightliner also dominated the export market. Kenworth was the outlier, with its exports falling by more than a third.

Industry Challenges and Policy Concerns

The Mexican trucking industry faces significant challenges despite the rebound. According to the National Association of Bus, Truck and Tractor Producers (ANPACT), Mexico's truck fleet has an average age of 19.3 years.

The industry group is calling for policy changes. These include expanded financing, tax incentives, and scrappage programs. ANPACT also wants measures to address imports of used heavy-duty vehicles from the United States.

About 26,000 used trucks entered Mexico from the U.S. In 2025. Although imports fell in the first seven months of 2026, ANPACT says roughly 53 used imported vehicles enter Mexico for every 100 new vehicles sold domestically.

Trade policy is another major concern ahead of the USMCA review. ANPACT advocates for preserving the trade agreement's existing rules of origin while reducing tariff burdens. The association supports increasing regional content to 70% in 2027 as planned, rather than loosening the rules.

Miguel Elizalde, the executive president of ANPACT, emphasized the need for stability. "The industry needs certainty," he said, according to a translation of his remarks. "Automotive investments are planned for the long term and require clear rules."

Nexio Expands US Production Footprint

In related North American manufacturing news, Texas-based Nexio Power has secured a 77-acre industrial campus in Anderson, Texas. The company plans to use the site for commercial truck production, finishing, testing, and warehousing.

The property includes about 180,000 square feet of existing production capacity and is already equipped for heavy-duty vehicle manufacturing. Infrastructure left by the previous operator includes paint and blast facilities, 13 overhead cranes, and a dedicated testing complex.

Nexio, which manufactures propane-powered commercial vehicles, said the Anderson operation will serve as a bridge to a larger campus it plans to develop in Lufkin, Texas. The facility will support complete vehicle assembly, from chassis preparation to final painting and finishing. The site will also feature on-site propane Autogas fueling for its alternative-fuel vehicles.

The company did not disclose financial terms, expected employment figures, or an annual production target for the new campus.