Itzel del Valle Mexico City / 07/13/2026 00:05:01 Milenio. Trump's trade strategy in the US is accelerating changes in regional production, even bringing cars from other parts of the world, but experts say investment flight is out of the question.
Automakers operating in North America are changing their manufacturing and product development strategies between Mexico, the United States, and Canada to reduce the damage already caused by President Donald Trump's tariffs imposed under Section 232 of the US National Security Act.
Far from anticipating plant closures or an exodus of investment from the country, industry representatives and specialists affirmed that U.S. tariffs are accelerating the reallocation of manufacturing projects among the three countries and even bringing them from other markets, such as China in Asia.
Automakers adjust their production in response to the tariffs. (IA) We recommend...
Automakers adjust their production in response to the tariffs. (IA)
Ten automakers adjust their plans and will not leave Mexico.
The strategy is to produce closer to the destination market to reduce costs stemming from the tariffs, without disrupting regional integration or displacing supply chains from Mexico.
In an interview with MILENIO, Juan Carlos Baker, an international trade specialist and former Undersecretary of Foreign Trade, explained that the tariffs imposed by the United States are forcing automakers to rethink where to manufacture their vehicles and how to reorganize their supply chains to comply with potentially stricter rules of origin and reduce their dependence on components from Asia, particularly China.
“Companies will have to anticipate different scenarios: from developing new local suppliers with the necessary certifications, to analyzing the distribution of their operations between Mexico and the United States to maintain competitiveness in the face of potential regulatory changes,” he noted.
This reconfiguration will also impact the allocation of models among North American plants, especially in high-demand segments such as SUVs and pickup trucks, where automakers will seek to produce closer to their main consumer market when it is convenient to reduce costs associated with the business environment.
Manufacturers and suppliers during the International Aftermarket Summit 2026. | Photo: Special.
Francisco González, executive president of the National Auto Parts Industry (INA), ruled out that these adjustments represent a loss of production for Mexico or the closure of plants.
“I don’t foresee plant closures. What we will see is a natural movement of models between Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Some vehicles primarily destined for the Mexican market will be produced here, while others geared toward the U.S. or Canadian markets will change location. These are normal adjustments within regional integration; it doesn’t mean Mexico will lose production, but rather that it will also gain new projects,” he stated.
Auto parts sector rules out Toyota’s total exit from Mexico and asks for calm after partial relocation to the U.S.
Why is Toyota moving production of its Tacoma pickup truck from Mexico to the U.S.?
González explained that the greatest impact of the new trade environment is concentrated on vehicle exports and not on the auto parts industry, which maintains a growth trend. Between January and April 2026, national auto parts production reached $41.973 billion, a 10 percent annual increase, while exports totaled $36.508 billion.
The New Challenge
Francisco González added that the next challenge for Mexico will be to increase the regional content of vehicles by developing new suppliers and making greater investments, a process that will require time to expand production capacity, install machinery, and certify processes.
During the International Aftermarket Summit 2026, manufacturers and suppliers agreed that the review of the USMCA is not slowing down investments, but rather accelerating the reorganization of supply chains in North America to better leverage existing infrastructure and respond more quickly to market changes.
More than representing a threat to the Mexican automotive industry, tariff pressure and the review of the USMCA are leading automakers to redefine their operations.
https://amp.milenio.com/negocios/reasignacion-proyectos-estrategia-automotriz-frente-aranceles
