In cargo they have positioned themselves with brands such as SHACMAN or Foton, while in passenger transport Yutong has positioned itself in the urban electromobility segment.
In addition to the light car business, China is also chasing the heavy truck market. In five years, Chinese exports of this type of units to Mexico skyrocketed 2,345%, going from 71 in 2018 to 1,736 units in 2023, according to data collected by the National Institute of Geography and Statistics (Inegi).
This leap allowed China to position itself as the third supplier to the Mexican market, which in 2023 consumed a record amount of 14,208 heavy vehicles from abroad. In 2018, the Asian nation was ranked seventh.
Japan—with brands such as Isuzu and Hino—continues to be the leading supplier, with 4,927 units, followed by Brazil, with 4,179 devices. From this last country, units of brands such as Mercedes Benz Buses, Scania and Volkswagen Trucks and Buses are imported.
Chinese brands are rapidly penetrating the Mexican market. In segments such as urban passenger transport, growth has gone hand in hand with sales to state companies.
Such is the case of the tenders won by Asian companies to provide electric traction buses with catenary (trolleybuses) to the Electric Transportation System of the government of Mexico City.
According to Inegi data, between 2018 and 2023 the Yutong company sold 998 imported units to Mexico, with 2022 being the year of the highest sale, with 334 vehicles.
In mid-May, the newspaper reported that this firm won a tender to sell its first 50 electric buses to another state company in CDMX, the Public Transportation Network (RTP), for which US$22 million plus VAT will be paid. .
It stands out that Yutong's main competitors in the electric vehicle sector are other Chinese companies, such as Zhongtong, BYD, King Long, Sunlong or Sunwin.
According to the consulting firm Motor Intelligence, the Mexican electric bus market alone will be worth US$280 million in 2024, but will reach US$1 billion in 2029.
Regarding cargo vehicles, the Chinese brands with the highest volume are Foton, with 2,311 units exported to Mexico, followed by SHACMAN, with 1,424 units shipped in the last five years.
Due to their aggressive value offer, Chinese vehicles are increasingly marketed, however, they face the obstacles of national policies from regions such as Europe and the United States, which are analyzing or have already imposed tariffs to equalize the conditions of competition with the national products.
