Mercedes-Benz halts Mexico output and exports in September

Mercedes-Benz recorded a 100% drop in both vehicle production and exports from Mexico in September 2026, assembling zero cars and shipping none abroad during the month, according to data from Mexico's National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi). The figures contrast with September 2025, when the German carmaker produced 4,768 vehicles and exported 6,452 units. The company had already posted low activity in August 2026, assembling only 50 vehicles.

From January to September 2026, Mercedes-Benz produced 22,060 vehicles in Mexico, representing a 49.3% year-on-year contraction. Its exports dropped 41.6% over the same period to 23,437 cars. Local vehicle sales also weakened: the automaker sold 605 units in September, down 28.3% from the prior year, bringing its nine-month sales total to 6,535 cars, a 17.9% decrease compared with the first nine months of 2025.

The operational halt follows the closure of the COMPAS manufacturing plant in Aguascalientes, announced in May 2026. The facility was operated jointly with Nissan to build Infiniti models and the Mercedes-Benz GLB. Both companies attributed the shutdown to shifting automotive market dynamics and changing consumer preferences. Nissan halted production at the site in November 2025, while Mercedes-Benz ended assembly in May 2026.

The stoppage aligns with a broader slowdown across the Mexican automotive sector, which has faced pressure from United States tariffs on imported vehicles. Total light vehicle production in Mexico fell 15.1% in September to 301,803 units, while sector-wide exports dropped 11.9% to 277,369 cars. Nissan, Mazda, and Ford also reported lower output and export volumes over the course of 2026.