“For the month of February 2026 we observed moderate percentage variations in the three main indicators : production registered a slight drop of 1.8%, exports decreased by 4.4% and domestic sales fell by 0.3% compared to February 2025. In the accumulated first two months, production shows a decrease of 0.6%, while exports grew by 1.4% and domestic sales increased by 4.4%.”

Production remains at high levels in the automotive industry

AMIA indicated that the volume reached during February reflects a stable performance of the Mexican automotive industry, considering that last year saw record figures.

“During February 2026, light vehicle production reached 311,457 units. Although this represents a 1.8% reduction compared to the same month in 2025, the volume positions this month as the sixth February with the highest production level since the automotive industry's administrative records began,” explained Ramírez .

In the year to date , production by segment was led by sport utility vehicles (SUVs), which represented almost half of the total, followed by pickups with 31.2%, compact cars with 15% and subcompacts, luxury vehicles and minivans with 4.7%.

The association also indicated that the Mexican automotive industry registered a production of close to 3.9 million vehicles in 2025 , which positioned itself as the second best historical record since 2005. In that context, the average capacity utilization of manufacturing plants stood at 91.4% at the end of last year, according to the Monthly Survey of the Manufacturing Industry.

Automotive exports maintain growth in the year-to-date figures

In terms of foreign trade , 247,945 vehicles were exported during February , a figure that represented a decrease of 4.4% compared to the same month in 2025.

However, in the period from January to February , exports reached 485,426 units , which implied a growth of 1.4% and placed the first two months of 2026 as the fifth best start to the year in terms of exports for the Mexican automotive industry.

“ Year -to-date exports totaled 485,426 units , representing a 1.4% increase compared to the same period last year. This volume places the first two months of 2026 as the fifth best start to the year in terms of exports for the Mexican automotive industry,” Ramírez explained .

By segment , SUVs accounted for 51.3% of exports , followed by pickups with 31%, compact cars with 15.1%, luxury vehicles with 1.5% and subcompacts with 1.1%.

In terms of destinations , the United States accounted for 75.7% of shipments, solidifying its position as the leading market for the Mexican automotive industry. Together, the United States, Canada, and Germany represented 91.1% of total exports.

By region , North America absorbed 87.8% of exports, followed by Latin America with 5.5%, Europe with 4.4%, Asia with 1.6%, Oceania with 0.3% and Africa with 0.1%.

Likewise, in the US market , Mexico positioned itself as the main origin of imported vehicles, with almost 368,000 units shipped in the first two months of 2026, equivalent to 17% of total sales in that country.

Domestic market records its best start to the year in two decades

In the domestic market , 118,305 light vehicles were sold during February , a slight decrease of 0.3% compared to the same month in 2025. Despite this, the volume achieved placed February 2026 as the second February with the highest domestic sales recorded.

In the period from January to February , the Mexican market reached 250,084 units sold , representing a 4.4% annual growth and positioning the period as the best start to the year for the domestic market since 2005.

Electrification accelerates its market share

One of the most dynamic segments was electrified vehicles . AMIA reported that 13,348 hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles were sold in February, representing a 30.2% increase compared to the same month in 2015 and an 11.3% share of total sales.

In the first two months of the year , this type of technology represented 11.1% of the market .

Of the total sold in February :

• 71.4% corresponded to hybrid vehicles (9,530 units)
• 16.3% to electric vehicles (2,178 units)
• 12.3% to plug-in hybrids (1,640 units)

Ramírez added that in Mexico there are currently four electric models and one hybrid model produced , with an accumulated production of 29,345 units of these technologies during the first two months, although with a reduction of 12.5% ​​compared to the same period of the previous year.

“During February 2026, sales of hybrid , plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles reached 13,348 units, representing a growth of 30.2% compared to the same month in 2025 and equivalent to 11.3% of total sales.”

Industry remains relevant in the manufacturing economy

The report confirms the importance of the Mexican automotive industry as one of the main drivers of the country's manufacturing sector and foreign trade. Although production and exports saw moderate adjustments compared to the previous year, the performance of the domestic market and the growth of the electrified vehicle segment reflect trends of technological transformation and consolidation of the domestic market.

According to AMIA , data from the first two months of the year shows that the industry is maintaining levels close to the historical highs recorded in recent years, in addition to an increase in the regional integration of supply chains and in the demand for vehicles with electrification technologies.

Source