Mexico's Freightliner Plant Cuts Output as US Demand Slows, Chinese Trucks Raise Tariff Concerns

Freightliner reduced production at its Coahuila plant by 45% as demand for heavy trucks in the United States weakened, the Mexican Economy Secretary said. The slowdown is expected to last several months to a year and a half, but no companies have reported closures or additional job cuts.

At the same time, imports of Chinese-made heavy trucks into Mexico have surged more than seven‑fold over six years, with about 23 Chinese firms now operating in the market. U.S. officials worry that these trucks could serve as a gateway for Chinese manufacturers into North‑American supply chains, complicating Mexico's effort to secure relief from U.S. tariffs under the United States‑Mexico‑Canada Agreement. Mexican truck makers propose higher tariffs on Chinese vehicles and seek U.S. recognition of Mexican‑built trucks as part of the regional industrial base.