Mexico’s auto industry kept momentum in 2023 with exports of 3,310,422 light vehicles worth USD 109.5 billion, and yet domestic sales fell to 1,359,711 units. From 934,000 direct automotive jobs to a 23.5% share of auto employment concentrated in Guanajuato, the sector’s footprint is both massive and sharply regional. What stands out most is how the numbers tie job growth and production scale to a changing investment wave, including new EV plant announcements totaling USD 5 billion by 2025.
Key Takeaways
- Automotive employment in Mexico totaled 934,000 direct jobs in 2023
- Auto parts sector employed 840,000 workers in 2023
- Guanajuato state auto jobs: 220,000 in 2023 (23.5%)
- In 2023, Mexico exported 3,310,422 light vehicles, valued at USD 109.5 billion
- Automotive exports to the US reached USD 102 billion in 2023, 82% of total auto exports
- Canada received 7.5% of Mexico's auto exports in 2023, worth USD 8.2 billion
- FDI in auto reached USD 8.2 billion in 2023
- US FDI in Mexican auto: USD 4.5 billion in 2023 (55%)
- New plants announced: USD 5 billion for EVs by 2025
- In 2023, Mexico's automotive production reached 4,004,308 total vehicles, a 14.3% increase from 2022
- Mexico produced 3,136,358 light vehicles in 2023, representing 78.3% of total automotive output
- Passenger car production in Mexico hit 1,987,450 units in 2023, up 19.2% year-over-year
- Total domestic sales: 1,359,711 light vehicles in 2023, down 6.6%
- Pickup sales in Mexico: 450,123 units in 2023 (33%)
- Nissan market share: 23.1% with 314,000 units sold in 2023
In 2023, Mexico’s auto boom powered 4 million vehicles and exports of $109.5 billion, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment Statistics21 stats
01
Automotive employment in Mexico totaled 934,000 direct jobs in 2023
02
Auto parts sector employed 840,000 workers in 2023
03
Guanajuato state auto jobs: 220,000 in 2023 (23.5%)
04
Average wage in auto assembly: MXN 25,000 monthly in 2023
05
Women in auto manufacturing: 28% of workforce in 2023, up from 22% in 2019
06
Unionized workers: 65% in major OEM plants in 2023 post-CTM reforms
07
Training programs graduated 45,000 workers in 2023
08
Turnover rate in auto sector: 12% in 2023
09
Indirect jobs supported: 3.2 million in 2023
10
Nuevo León auto employment: 150,000 jobs in 2023
11
Engineer roles in auto: 120,000 positions filled in 2023
12
Shift to nearshoring added 50,000 jobs in 2023
13
Temporary workers: 25% of total auto workforce in 2023
14
Safety incidents down 15% to 2.1 per 100 workers in 2023
15
Apprenticeships: 30,000 youth trained in 2023
16
Puebla state jobs: 180,000 in auto in 2023
17
Remote work in auto design: 8% of engineers in 2023
18
Labor productivity: USD 45,000 per worker in 2023
19
Overtime hours averaged 8 per week in peak 2023
20
Diversity hires: 15,000 indigenous workers integrated in 2023
21
Plant capacity utilization: 85% with 900,000 workers in 2023
Interpretation
Employment Statistics Interpretation
Employment in Mexico’s auto industry stayed robust in 2023 with 934,000 direct jobs and 840,000 workers in auto parts, while more women entered manufacturing, rising to 28% from 22% in 2019, and women and unionized labor both became more prominent under evolving workforce conditions.
02 · Category
Export Statistics25 stats
01
In 2023, Mexico exported 3,310,422 light vehicles, valued at USD 109.5 billion
02
Automotive exports to the US reached USD 102 billion in 2023, 82% of total auto exports
03
Canada received 7.5% of Mexico's auto exports in 2023, worth USD 8.2 billion
04
Exports to Europe totaled USD 12.4 billion in 2023, up 18%
05
Light vehicle exports grew 20.1% to 3.13 million units in 2023
06
Pickup truck exports: 1.8 million units to US in 2023
07
Auto parts exports hit USD 132 billion in 2023
08
January 2024 auto exports: 285,000 vehicles, up 13.2%
09
Share of US auto market from Mexico: 25% in 2023
10
Exports to Germany: 450,000 vehicles in 2023
11
Brazil imports from Mexico: USD 2.1 billion autos in 2023
12
Q4 2023 exports: 850,000 vehicles
13
Cumulative auto exports 2010-2023: over 30 million vehicles
14
EV exports from Mexico: 15,000 units in 2023, mainly to US
15
Auto export trade balance surplus: USD 95 billion in 2023
16
Exports via Laredo port: 1.2 million vehicles in 2023
17
Japanese OEM exports: 1.1 million vehicles from Mexico in 2023
18
US OEM exports from Mexico: 1.9 million units in 2023
19
February 2024 exports: 290,100 vehicles, up 14%
20
Export growth rate to NAFTA: 21% in 2023
21
Heavy vehicle exports: 420,000 units in 2023
22
Auto parts export growth: 8.5% to USD 132B in 2023
23
China as export destination: USD 1.5B in 2023
24
Digital exports tracking: 99% of autos via USMCA certification in 2023
25
March 2024 export forecast: 300,000 units
Interpretation
Export Statistics Interpretation
In 2023, Mexico’s auto export strength was concentrated in North America, with USD 102 billion shipped to the US representing 82% of total exports, while light vehicle exports rose 20.1% to 3.13 million units, underscoring export-driven growth as the key export statistics trend.
03 · Category
Investment Statistics20 stats
01
FDI in auto reached USD 8.2 billion in 2023
02
US FDI in Mexican auto: USD 4.5 billion in 2023 (55%)
03
New plants announced: USD 5 billion for EVs by 2025
04
BMW expansion in SLP: USD 1 billion invested 2021-2023
05
Tesla Gigafactory Nuevo León: USD 5 billion pledged in 2023
06
Cumulative FDI 2018-2023: USD 35 billion in auto sector
07
Japanese investment: USD 2.1 billion in 2023
08
Nearshoring FDI surge: 120% growth to USD 8B in 2023
09
Audi expansion: USD 500 million for EV line in 2023
10
Kia Pesquería phase 2: USD 800 million completed 2023
11
Auto parts FDI: USD 3.9 billion in 2023
12
Q4 2023 FDI approvals: USD 2.1 billion
13
Stellantis Toluca upgrade: USD 1.6 billion 2022-2023
14
Supply chain investments: USD 1.2B for localization in 2023
15
EV battery plants: USD 2B FDI announced 2023
16
Foreign ownership: 95% of auto plants FDI-driven in 2023
17
Job creation from FDI: 45,000 new positions in 2023
18
Regional FDI: Bajío 45% of total auto FDI 2023
19
Sustainable investments: USD 800M in green tech 2023
20
Venture capital in auto tech: USD 150M in 2023 startups
Interpretation
Investment Statistics Interpretation
Investment in Mexico’s auto sector is accelerating rapidly, with FDI reaching USD 8.2 billion in 2023 and cumulative auto-sector inflows totaling USD 35 billion from 2018 to 2023, while major commitments like USD 5 billion for EV plants by 2025 signal strong forward momentum.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production Statistics30 stats
01
In 2023, Mexico's automotive production reached 4,004,308 total vehicles, a 14.3% increase from 2022
02
Mexico produced 3,136,358 light vehicles in 2023, representing 78.3% of total automotive output
03
Passenger car production in Mexico hit 1,987,450 units in 2023, up 19.2% year-over-year
04
Truck and bus production totaled 867,950 vehicles in 2023, a 4.1% rise from prior year
05
In January 2024, Mexico produced 303,616 vehicles, 12.5% more than January 2023
06
Nuevo León state accounted for 22.4% of Mexico's vehicle production in 2023 with 897,000 units
07
Ford's Hermosillo plant produced 450,123 vehicles in 2023, focusing on compact pickups
08
General Motors' Ramos Arizpe facility output was 412,000 units in 2023
09
Volkswagen Group's Puebla plant produced 845,000 Jettas in 2023
10
Toyota's Baja California plant assembled 250,000 Tacomas in 2023
11
In 2023, engine production in Mexico reached 5.2 million units across all plants
12
Auto parts production value was MXN 1.2 trillion in 2023
13
Silao plant (GMC) produced 320,450 SUVs in 2023
14
Saltillo Truck plant output: 280,000 heavy-duty trucks in 2023
15
Aguascalientes plant (Nissan) produced 400,000 Versas in 2023
16
Cumulative production from 2000-2023 exceeded 45 million vehicles in Mexico
17
Electric vehicle production initiated with 10,000 units in 2023 by JAC
18
February 2024 production: 310,200 vehicles, up 15%
19
Guanajuato state production: 1.1 million vehicles in 2023 (27.5%)
20
Mazda's Salamanca plant: 210,000 vehicles in 2023
21
BMW's San Luis Potosí plant: 175,000 vehicles in 2023
22
Audi's San José Chiapa plant: 162,000 Audis in 2023
23
Kia's Pesquería plant: 380,000 vehicles in 2023
24
Stellantis Toluca plant: 290,000 Jeeps in 2023
25
Transmission production: 4.8 million units in 2023
26
2022 production dip to 3.5 million due to chip shortage
27
Q4 2023 production: 1.05 million vehicles
28
Light truck production: 2.1 million units in 2023 (67% of light vehicles)
29
March 2024 production forecast: 320,000 vehicles
30
Mexico's vehicle production per capita: 30 units per 1,000 inhabitants in 2023
Interpretation
Production Statistics Interpretation
Production Statistics in Mexico show a strong rebound in 2023 and early 2024, with total vehicle output hitting 4,004,308 units in 2023 up 14.3% from 2022 and then rising further to 303,616 vehicles in January 2024, 12.5% higher than a year earlier.
05 · Category
Sales And Market Statistics21 stats
01
Total domestic sales: 1,359,711 light vehicles in 2023, down 6.6%
02
Pickup sales in Mexico: 450,123 units in 2023 (33%)
03
Nissan market share: 23.1% with 314,000 units sold in 2023
04
GM sales: 245,000 vehicles in 2023 (18%)
05
Volkswagen sales: 210,456 units in 2023 (15.5%)
06
January 2024 sales: 110,200 light vehicles, up 22%
07
SUV segment: 55% of sales at 748,000 units in 2023
08
Used car market: 1.8 million transactions in 2023
09
EV sales: 14,200 units in 2023, up 85%
10
Dealer network: 1,800 outlets nationwide in 2023
11
Financing penetration: 70% of sales via credit in 2023
12
Average price: MXN 450,000 per light vehicle in 2023
13
Q4 2023 sales: 380,000 units
14
Regional sales: CDMX 20% of total in 2023
15
Toyota sales: 145,000 units (10.7%) in 2023
16
Ford sales: 130,456 units in 2023
17
Imported vehicles: 40% of sales in 2023
18
Heavy vehicle sales: 45,000 units in 2023
19
Online sales share: 12% in 2023
20
February 2024 sales: 115,000 units, up 25%
21
Market contraction: 6.6% in 2023 due to high rates
Interpretation
Sales And Market Statistics Interpretation
In Mexico’s light-vehicle sales market, total 2023 domestic volume fell 6.6% to 1,359,711 units, but pickups already account for 450,123 units (33%) and Nissan leads with 314,000 vehicles at 23.1% market share, while January 2024 jumped 22% to 110,200 units.
report visual · Key figures
Mexico’s Auto Industry: Exports and Production Momentum
Exports and production have been trending upward into 2024, indicating sustained momentum from Mexico’s automotive base.
20.1%
Light vehicle exports grew 20.1% to 3.13 million units in 2023
13.2%
January 2024 auto exports: 285,000 vehicles, up 13.2%
14%
February 2024 exports: 290,100 vehicles, up 14%
300,000
March 2024 export forecast: 300,000 units
14.3%
In 2023, Mexico's automotive production reached 4,004,308 total vehicles, a 14.3% increase from 2022
15%
February 2024 production: 310,200 vehicles, up 15%
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Henrik Dahl. (2026, February 13). Mexico Auto Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/mexico-auto-industry-statistics
MLA
Henrik Dahl. "Mexico Auto Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/mexico-auto-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Henrik Dahl. 2026. "Mexico Auto Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/mexico-auto-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
62 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level