China was the main supplier of cars to Mexico for the first time

The cars manufactured in China have conquered the Mexicans, and for the first time in 2022, the Asian country will become the main supplier of light vehicles to Mexicoabove the United States.

From January to November 2022, our country imported 153,707 vehicles made in China out of a total of 651,710 units purchased from the world, that is, 23.5%. So there were 8 automotive brands, 5 of them Chinese, which were supplied from that nation as a response to the lack of semiconductors.

In 2021, India It was the main supplier of cars in Mexico, but the fierce competition places China in the lead in 2022, and Indian units to fifth place with 61,917 units. USA it is the second supplier of cars for the Mexican market with 92,591 units; followed by Brazil with 88,592 and Japan with 65,714 cars.

The arrival of Chinese companies in our country prior to and during the pandemic, including BAIC, MG, JAC, Chirey, others such as the newcomer SEV and BYD, are increasing their sales, taking advantage of the availability of models.

Eric Ramírez, Latam regional director of Urban Science (consultant and analyst of the automotive sector) explained that “in Mexico there is already a participation of products manufactured in China, higher than 16% and the experience of customers with respect to these products has been satisfactory, by benefits and what they have evolved in years”.

During 2022, General Motors It was positioned as the leader in car sales in Mexico, and one of its strategies was to stock up on Chinese cars, in addition to North American manufacturing, as an option that would serve the Mexican market. The American brand imported units from China in its alliance with the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC) and there are already 9 models that it offers to Mexican consumers.

Stellantis has two models, the Chrysler and Peugeot Journey; Ford brings the Territori; BMW the ix3; while Chinese companies such as MG import 5 units, BAIC 3, Chirey 4 models and will soon increase their range, as well as the other two brands BYD and SEV.

However, China not only became the main car supplier to Mexicobut it is the great promoter of electric vehicles at a lower cost, stated Guido Vildozo, associate director of research and analyst for the Americas at S&P Global Mobility, since “we have the presence of Chinese brands that will accelerate the presence of electric cars And that is what we will see in the next five years.”

The director of Latam at Urban Science said: “what we have seen is that every month there is a great acceptance of the markets, not only in Mexico but also in Latin America, for Chinese cars. The levels of quality, design and freshness that they have brought have been successful”.

MG, the English company, but which is owned by the Chinese SAIC Motor consortium, was placed seventh car dealer in Mexicoby displacing European and Asian brands with a solid presence in the country, placing their range of vehicles in the top 10 of each segment in which they compete.

lilia.gonzalez@eleconomista.mx

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