Mexico Truck Exports Hit 2026 High in May
Mexico's heavy-duty truck exports climbed to 11,938 units in May, the strongest month of 2026 even as demand remains below last year's pace.
May Brought A Rebound
Mexico produced 14,543 heavy-duty trucks and buses in May, nearly matching the year-earlier month after a weak start to 2026. Exports reached 11,938 units, making May the strongest month of the year for both production and exports.
The annual comparison is still softer. FreightWaves reported that May production was down 0.6% year over year, while exports were down 8.5% from May 2025. But the month-to-month trend improved sharply, with exports climbing from roughly 5,000 units in January to nearly 12,000 in May.
The U.S. Still Drives Demand
The U.S. remained the dominant destination for Mexican-built heavy trucks. From January through May, Mexico exported 45,530 heavy-duty vehicles, and 42,078 of them went to the U.S., according to industry data cited by FreightWaves.
Freightliner led Mexican production in May with 9,348 trucks, while International was second with 3,519. Diesel equipment continued to dominate exported heavy-duty vehicles.
Recovery Is Not Locked In
The domestic market still looks uneven. Wholesale heavy-duty sales rose in May, but retail sales fell 15.6% year over year and were down 26.3% through the first five months. That makes June and July important checks on whether the rebound is real demand or inventory building ahead of a slower market.
