Chinese Cars in Mexico Hit 17% of Sales Despite a 50% Tariff
Chinese brands took 17% of Mexico's new-vehicle market in the first half of 2026 despite a 50% import tariff, while a shorter workweek pushes factories to redraw shifts. The post Chinese Cars in Mexico Hit 17% of Sales Despite a 50% Tariff appeared first on The Rio Times .
Chinese cars have emerged as the second-largest source of vehicles purchased in Mexico, with Chinese brands capturing 17% of the new light-vehicle market in the first half of 2026, up from 14% the previous year. Despite a 50% import duty imposed since January 2026, showroom sales of Chinese cars have continued to rise. In the first half of 2026, Chinese brands sold 137,525 vehicles in Mexico, compared to 107,712 a year earlier, marking a near 28% increase.
This jump is largely attributed to a backlog of pre-tariff stock that importers are still working through. BYD leads the pack with 33,969 units sold, followed by MG with 32,013 vehicles. Other notable brands include Chirey, Geely, Changan, and Great Wall. Although the tariff has impacted imports, with Chinese light vehicle imports falling about 43% by value in the first five months of 2026, the high demand has kept sales strong.
The majority of vehicles sold in Mexico are now built in Chinese factories, with Chinese plants supplying about 22% of the market, followed by Mexican plants at 32%. This shift in production and sales demonstrates the impact of the tariff, while the gradual reduction in the working week also influences automotive manufacturers' preparation and plans.
Written by urgent.news from The Rio Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
