Mexico produces 4.1 million vehicles each year. That volume represents 24 percent of North American output. The sector also sustains 950,000 direct jobs plus millions more in related supply chains.
Key Takeaways
- Mexico's automotive employment reached 950,000 direct jobs in 2023.
- Automotive exports from Mexico reached $124 billion USD in 2023, 83% to the US.
- FDI in Mexico's auto sector totaled $6.2 billion USD in 2023.
- In 2023, Mexico's automotive industry produced 4.1 million vehicles, representing 24% of North America's total production.
- Vehicle sales in Mexico reached 1.35 million units in 2023, up 12.4%.
Mexico’s automotive sector is growing fast, with rising production and exports boosting the national economy.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment Metrics20 stats
01
Mexico's automotive employment reached 950,000 direct jobs in 2023.
02
Indirect jobs in auto supply chain totaled 3.2 million in 2023.
03
Guanajuato state employed 180,000 in automotive sector in 2023.
04
Nuevo Leon had 120,000 auto workers in 2023.
05
Average wage in Mexican auto plants was $450USD monthly in 2023.
06
Women comprised 32% of auto industry workforce in 2023, up 5% from 2020.
07
Engineers in auto sector numbered 85,000 in 2023.
08
Training programs graduated 25,000 workers for auto plants in 2023.
09
Turnover rate in auto manufacturing was 8% in 2023.
10
Unionized workers in auto industry: 450,000 in 2023.
11
Nearshoring created 50,000 new auto jobs in 2023.
12
Aguascalientes state auto employment: 95,000 in 2023.
13
Puebla employed 110,000 in VW and suppliers in 2023.
14
Coahuila truck plants had 80,000 workers in 2023.
15
Sonora auto jobs: 70,000, mostly Ford and suppliers in 2023.
16
EV sector added 12,000 specialized jobs in 2023.
17
Logistics jobs for auto exports: 150,000 in 2023.
18
R&D positions in auto: 20,000 engineers in 2023.
19
Youth under 30: 40% of new hires in auto plants 2023.
20
Safety incidents per 100 workers: 2.1 in 2023.
Interpretation
Employment Metrics Interpretation
While Mexico's auto industry now fuels over four million livelihoods and a record wave of nearshoring, its engine is powered by a dedicated yet underpaid workforce—from the young new hires on assembly lines to the growing ranks of female and unionized workers—all navigating a landscape where innovation and job growth must ultimately shift gears toward better wages and safer conditions.
02 · Category
Export and Import Data24 stats
01
Automotive exports from Mexico reached $124 billion USD in 2023, 83% to the US.
02
Vehicle exports totaled 3.2 million units in 2023, a record high.
03
US-bound vehicle shipments were 2.6 million units in 2023, 82% of total exports.
04
Canada received 180,000 Mexican vehicles in 2023 via USMCA.
05
Exports to Europe hit 120,000 units in 2023, mainly from German plants.
06
Auto parts exports grew 8% to $109 billion in 2023.
07
Wiring harness exports valued $18 billion in 2023, 95% to North America.
08
Engine exports reached $25 billion USD in 2023.
09
Transmission exports totaled 3.9 million units worth $22 billion in 2023.
10
Q1 2024 vehicle exports rose 12% to 820,000 units.
11
Imports of vehicles into Mexico were 1.2 million units in 2023, mostly used from US.
12
Auto parts imports declined 5% to $38 billion in 2023.
13
China supplied 25% of Mexico's imported auto parts in 2023, valued at $9.5 billion.
14
US auto parts imports to Mexico hit $20 billion in 2023.
15
Trade surplus in automotive sector was $86 billion USD in 2023.
16
Maquiladora exports from auto sector contributed $95 billion in 2023.
17
Exports via Laredo port reached 1.1 million vehicles in 2023.
18
Nuevo Laredo customs processed $40 billion in auto exports in 2023.
19
Veracruz port handled 250,000 vehicles for export in 2023.
20
Manzanillo port exports of auto parts grew 15% to $5 billion in 2023.
21
Automotive trade with US under USMCA was $200 billion in 2023.
22
RoRo shipments to US totaled 2.4 million vehicles from Mexico in 2023.
23
Steel imports for auto industry were 4.5 million tons in 2023.
24
Aluminum imports for vehicles hit 450,000 tons in 2023.
Interpretation
Export and Import Data Interpretation
Mexico's automotive industry is essentially the United States' incredibly efficient and profitable backroom assembly line, sending a flood of vehicles and parts north while carefully managing a complex global web of its own imports.
03 · Category
Investment and FDI Figures21 stats
01
FDI in Mexico's auto sector totaled $6.2 billion USD in 2023.
02
US firms invested $3.8 billion in Mexican auto plants in 2023.
03
German OEMs committed $2.1 billion FDI in 2023 expansions.
04
Nearshoring FDI surged 25% to $4.5 billion in auto in 2023.
05
Nissan announced $2 billion investment for EV production in 2023.
06
BMW expanded San Luis plant with $800 million in 2023.
07
Stellantis invested $1.6 billion in Saltillo for new Ram models in 2023.
08
Tesla evaluated $5 billion Gigafactory in Nuevo Leon in 2023 talks.
09
Korean firms (Hyundai/Kia) FDI: $1.2 billion in 2023.
10
Japanese OEMs invested $900 million in 2023 upgrades.
11
Auto parts FDI reached $2.8 billion in 2023.
12
Guanajuato attracted $1.5 billion auto FDI in 2023.
13
Cumulative FDI in auto since 1993: $45 billion by 2023.
14
2024 FDI projections: $7.5 billion for auto sector.
15
EV battery plants FDI: $1.1 billion announced in 2023.
16
Logistics infrastructure FDI for auto: $600 million in 2023.
17
R&D centers FDI: $400 million from OEMs in 2023.
18
New plants announced: 5 with $3.2 billion total in 2023.
19
Supplier park investments: $850 million around OEMs in 2023.
20
Queretaro state FDI in auto: $700 million in 2023.
21
San Luis Potosi attracted $900 million BMW-related FDI in 2023.
Interpretation
Investment and FDI Figures Interpretation
In a show of geopolitical and industrial seduction, Mexico's auto sector lured over $6 billion in 2023 as global giants, from Detroit to Stuttgart, placed expensive bets on its soil, proving that nearshoring is less a trend and more a full-blown, high-stakes romance.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production Statistics30 stats
01
In 2023, Mexico's automotive industry produced 4.1 million vehicles, representing 24% of North America's total production.
02
Light vehicle production in Mexico reached 3,869,689 units in 2023, up 7.3% from 2022.
03
Mexico manufactured 2.4 million passenger cars in 2023, accounting for 19% of global output in this segment.
04
Commercial vehicle production hit 457,000 units in 2023, a 14% year-over-year growth.
05
In Q4 2023, monthly vehicle production averaged 350,000 units, led by Puebla state's plants.
06
Engine production in Mexico totaled 5.2 million units in 2023, with 60% for export.
07
Transmission assembly output reached 4.8 million units in 2023, primarily in Guanajuato.
08
Wiring harness production exceeded 380 million units in 2023, 80% exported to the US.
09
In 2022, Mexico's auto parts production value was $120 billion USD.
10
Vehicle assembly plants in Mexico numbered 23 in 2023, producing over 4 million units combined.
11
Ford's Hermosillo plant produced 380,000 vehicles in 2023, specializing in Mavericks.
12
GM's Ramos Arizpe facility output 250,000 units in 2023, focusing on SUVs.
13
Volkswagen's Puebla plant assembled 520,000 Jettas in 2023, world's largest for the model.
14
Nissan’s Aguascalientes plants produced 800,000 vehicles in 2023, 70% for export.
15
Toyota's Baja California plant output 160,000 Tacomas in 2023.
16
BMW's San Luis Potosi plant reached 180,000 units in 2023, all 3 Series sedans.
17
Audi's San Jose Chiapa plant produced 150,000 Q5 SUVs in 2023.
18
Stellantis' Saltillo truck plant assembled 320,000 Ram pickups in 2023.
19
Honda's El Salto plant output 120,000 CR-Vs in 2023.
20
Kia's Pesquería plant produced 380,000 vehicles in 2023, mostly Sorentos.
21
Mazda's Salamanca plant assembled 240,000 vehicles in 2023.
22
Mercedes-Benz's first EV plant in Mexico began production of 6,000 EQS in 2023 pilot.
23
Auto parts suppliers in Mexico numbered over 600 in 2023, generating $45 billion in exports.
24
EV production in Mexico surged to 45,000 units in 2023, up 200% from 2022.
25
Seating production reached 18 million units in 2023, led by Adient and Lear.
26
Battery production for hybrids hit 1.2 million packs in 2023.
27
Mexico's automotive cluster in Bajio region produced 2.1 million vehicles in 2023.
28
Northern border states contributed 1.2 million units to national production in 2023.
29
Central Mexico plants output 1.8 million light vehicles in 2023.
30
Mexico ranked 7th globally in vehicle production with 4.1 million units in 2023.
Interpretation
Production Statistics Interpretation
Mexico is quietly building a quarter of North America's cars, nearly a fifth of the world's passenger vehicles, and a mountain of critical components, proving it’s no longer just a supporting actor in the global auto industry but rather its indispensable production powerhouse.
05 · Category
Sales and Market Trends21 stats
01
Vehicle sales in Mexico reached 1.35 million units in 2023, up 12.4%.
02
Pickup truck sales surged 25% to 320,000 units in 2023.
03
SUV sales dominated with 580,000 units, 43% market share in 2023.
04
Nissan held 23% market share with 310,000 units sold in 2023.
05
Chevrolet was second with 19% share, 256,000 units in 2023.
06
Used vehicle market: 5.2 million transactions in 2023.
07
EV sales grew 85% to 25,000 units in 2023.
08
Hybrid sales doubled to 45,000 units in 2023.
09
Average vehicle price rose 8% to $28,000 USD in 2023.
10
Dealer network: 2,500 outlets sold 1.35 million new vehicles in 2023.
11
Q4 2023 sales: 380,000 units, boosted by incentives.
12
Pickup segment leader: Ram with 110,000 sales in 2023.
13
Toyota sales: 150,000 units, 11% market share in 2023.
14
VW sales: 120,000 units in Mexico in 2023.
15
Imported vehicles: 450,000 sold, 33% of market in 2023.
16
Fleet sales to businesses: 420,000 units in 2023.
17
Retail consumer sales: 930,000 units in 2023.
18
Financing penetration: 75% of sales via credit in 2023.
19
Digital sales platforms handled 15% of leads in 2023.
20
2024 sales forecast: 1.5 million units, 11% growth.
21
Luxury segment sales up 18% to 35,000 units in 2023.
Interpretation
Sales and Market Trends Interpretation
While Mexico’s automotive market is still stubbornly addicted to gas-guzzling SUVs and pickups, the thrilling, if still modest, surge in EV and hybrid sales suggests the patient might finally be considering rehab.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Marcus Engström. (2026, February 13). Mexico Automotive Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/mexico-automotive-industry-statistics
MLA
Marcus Engström. "Mexico Automotive Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/mexico-automotive-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Engström. 2026. "Mexico Automotive Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/mexico-automotive-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
69 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level