Mexico is the world’s seventh-largest vehicle producer, with its automotive industry contributing approximately 3% to the national GDP and supporting over 1.8 million jobs.
In 2024, the country set a new production record, manufacturing 3,989,403 light vehicles—surpassing the previous high of 3,933,154 units from 2017. About 87% of these vehicles were exported, marking a significant milestone for the industry. [1]
Vehicle exports also reached an all-time high, with 3,479,086 units shipped abroad, reflecting a 5.4% year-over-year increase. General Motors led the exports with 830,820 vehicles, followed by Nissan with 456,866 units. [2]
While Mexico is widely recognized for manufacturing vehicles for major international brands like Ford, General Motors, Volkswagen, and Toyota, it is also fostering a growing number of homegrown car brands that are carving out their place in the industry.
With a well-developed infrastructure, competitive labor costs, and strategic trade agreements such as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), Mexico has created an ideal environment for local automakers to flourish.
Since the EV market in Mexico is expected to grow at an annual rate of over 50% by 2030, local brands are increasingly embracing sustainability. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), sales of plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles in Mexico surged by 70.2% in 2024 compared to the previous year. [3]
Below, I explore the homegrown Mexican car brands, their business model, and how they contribute to the country’s growing influence in the global auto industry. Companies like Mastretta and Zacua demonstrate that Mexico is not just a hub for foreign manufacturing but a nation capable of designing and producing its own unique vehicles.
Did you know?Grupo Industrial Ramírez was Mexico’s first automotive company and the pioneer in manufacturing pickup trucks and vans in the country.
Table of Contents
8. Inferno Automobili
Founded in 2016Popular Model: Inferno Exotic Car
Competitive Edge: Patented “metal foam” material
lnferno Automobili is a Mexican-Italian hypercar manufacturer that has gained global attention for its extreme performance, futuristic design, and groundbreaking materials.
Unlike conventional supercar brands, Inferno Automobili aims to push the boundaries of hypercar technology by introducing revolutionary materials like “metal foam,” a nanotech alloy that provides unparalleled strength and flexibility.
Their vision is to create a Mexican hypercar that could rival elite European brands like Bugatti, Koenigsegg, and Pagani. The development and design process has involved both Mexican and Italian engineers, blending Mexican innovation with Italian automotive craftsmanship.
The company made its global debut with the Inferno Exotic Car, a hypercar featuring 1,400 horsepower and a top speed of 400 km/h. The car’s body is constructed using a patented metal foam known as “Zinag,” an alloy of zinc, aluminum, and silver. This material offers a density of 4.3 g/cm³ and is designed to absorb impacts effectively, enhancing safety without compromising performance. [4]
lnferno Automobili has revealed plans to develop three new hypercar models and one hypertruck model, expanding its portfolio while staying committed to exclusivity and high performance.
7. Ron Automóviles
Founded in 1936Prototypes: R07, RXX
Competitive Edge: Unique design and focus on performance
Ron Automóviles stands out by creating uniquely designed sports cars tailored to a niche market. Founded with the vision of proving that Mexico can produce world-class sports cars, this company blends Mexican engineering expertise with premium materials and high-performance engines.
Ron Automóviles has revealed two notable prototypes: R07 and RXX. The R07 is a street-legal sports car inspired by lightweight performance models like the Caterham and Ariel Atom. Featuring an open-wheel design, it is engineered to deliver an exhilarating driving experience. [5]
The RXX, on the other hand, is an electric sports car concept that embodies a futuristic approach to high-performance vehicles. It features a tandem seating arrangement, with the passenger positioned behind the driver, and incorporates advanced aerodynamic design elements to maximize speed and efficiency.
6. Solana
Founded in 1936Popular Model: Solana Sport Series II
Competitive Edge: Historic legacy and handcrafted exclusivity
Solana is one of the oldest automakers in Mexico, dating back to 1936. Unlike mass-production brands, it focuses on custom-built, race-inspired vehicles, making it one of the most exclusive Mexican car brands.
Solana’s production is extremely limited, with only a few units produced per year, mainly for motorsports enthusiasts and collectors. By 2003, the company had produced only 42 vehicles, maintaining its reputation for exclusivity and craftsmanship.
One of their most notable creations is the “Deportivo Series II,” introduced in 1998. This model features a tubular space frame and is powered by a 1.8-liter Datsun engine, producing approximately 60 horsepower and reaching a top speed of around 195 km/h.
While Solana has never reached large-scale production, it remains a prestigious name in Mexican motorsports history, competing in races like La Carrera Panamericana and other endurance events. Some models are often seen in classic racing events, keeping the brand alive in motorsports circles.
The Solana family still runs the company, ensuring its heritage and identity remain intact.
5. Elfi Motors
Founded in 2019Popular Models: Jimmy KR, Moto Taxi TA3
Competitive Edge: Affordable EVs
Elfi Motors develops small, eco-friendly electric cars. It’s still relatively new and small-scale, but aims to reduce carbon emissions, promote affordable electric transportation, and compete with imported EVs from China and the U.S..
Its flagship model, the Jimmy KR, is a compact, four-door electric vehicle designed for city use. Equipped with modern features, including a touch screen with navigation, this EV offers a top speed of 60 km/h and a range of up to 150 kilometers on a single charge. [6]
The company also produces the Moto Taxi TA-3, a three-wheeled electric vehicle suitable for commercial and personal transportation. This model is designed to navigate urban settings efficiently, providing a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to traditional fuel-powered vehicles.
Elfi Motors is actively expanding its presence by seeking distributors across Mexico and Latin America, with the goal of promoting sustainable transportation solutions throughout the region.
4. Mastretta
Popular Model: Mastretta MXT
Competitive Edge: Produced first Mexican sports car
Mastretta is best known for producing the Mastretta MXT, the country’s first high-performance sports car designed and built entirely in Mexico.
Founded by Mexican industrial designer Daniel Mastretta, the company originally focused on automotive design, engineering, and lightweight vehicle production before transitioning into full-scale car manufacturing. It gained international recognition when the MXT was unveiled at the 2008 British International Motor Show, marking Mexico’s official entry into the global sports car market.
The MXT featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged Ford Duratec engine producing 250 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque. It was compared to Lotus and Porsche models in terms of lightweight chassis, agility, and driving experience. [7]
The company produced limited numbers of hand-assembled MXT models and sold them directly to customers and through specialty dealerships. It targeted both Mexican and international sports car enthusiasts, particularly in Europe and North America.
However, unlike large automakers, Mastretta lacked the scale and financial backing to mass-produce vehicles. Despite a promising start, the company faced challenges such as production delays, limited financing, and intense market competition, ultimately leading to its decline by the mid-2010s.
Today, the limited number of MXT models has appreciated in value among collectors. Meanwhile, Mastretta has shifted its focus back to industrial design and engineering services, stepping away from automobile manufacturing.
3. DINA (Diesel Nacional)
Founded in 1951Popular Models: DINA Linner, Runner, Buller
Competitive Edge: Extensive service network and parts availability
While not exactly a car brand, Diesel Nacional is a popular manufacturer of trucks, buses, and commercial vehicles. It has played a crucial role in Mexico’s heavy vehicle industry, supplying buses for public transportation, trucks for freight, and specialized vehicles for industrial use.
DINA is one of the oldest and most prominent Mexican-owned automotive manufacturers, competing against global brands like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Scania, and MAN in the Latin American market.
Throughout its history, DINA has formed strategic alliances with many international companies, including Renault, Fiat, Caterpillar, Chrysler, Skoda, and Cummins. These collaborations have enabled DINA to diversify its product offerings and integrate advanced technologies into its vehicles.
To date, the company has produced more than 200,000 vehicles. In the heavy-duty truck segment, the DINA 800 stands out for its efficiency and power. Meanwhile, the DINA Ridder, a low-floor bus designed for accessibility and modern urban mobility, is widely used in Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems across Mexico. [8]
DINA is also focusing on electric and alternative fuel vehicles, expanding into new markets while ensuring compliance with stringent emission standards to remain competitive both domestically and internationally.
2. VUHL
VUHL 05
Popular Models: VUHL 05, 05RR
Competitive Edge: Extreme power-to-weight ratios
Founded by Mexican brothers Iker and Guillermo Echeverría, VUHL emerged as Mexico’s answer to boutique performance brands like BAC, Ariel, and KTM. The company’s core philosophy revolves around precision engineering, aerodynamic efficiency, and extreme power-to-weight ratios. It targets a niche sector: the track-focused, road-legal supercar market.
VUHL gained recognition when it introduced its first model, the VUHL 05, at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK. This lightweight supercar features a 2.3L Ford EcoBoost turbocharged inline-four engine, producing between 360 and 400 horsepower. Constructed with a carbon fiber and aluminum chassis, it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds. [9]
VUHL’s production strategy prioritizes local sourcing, with more than half of its components coming from Mexican suppliers. About 40% are sourced from the UK, while the remainder comes from the U.S., France, Germany, and China.
The company operates on an exclusive, low-volume production model, manufacturing only one to two cars per month, with an annual capacity of approximately 60 vehicles.
Priced between $75,000 and $110,000, VUHL’s cars are not sold through traditional dealerships. Instead, customers place orders through automotive expos, online inquiries, and private showcases. Sales are often driven by motorsports events, luxury car exhibitions, and elite car clubs.
1. Zacua
Popular Models: Zacua MX2, MX3
Competitive Edge: Benefits from government EV incentives and policies
Zacua is Mexico’s first 100% electric car manufacturer, focusing on small, lightweight, and efficient electric cars designed for city driving. The name “Zacua” is inspired by a rare bird species native to Mexico, symbolizing freedom, sustainability, and ecological balance—core values of the brand.
Unlike most automakers in Mexico, which focus on manufacturing cars for foreign brands, Zacua is fully Mexican-owned and operated, aiming to develop locally produced electric cars. The company prioritizes local job creation, particularly by employing an all-female workforce in its assembly line, which is rare in the global automotive industry.
It operates on a direct-to-consumer (DTC) model, eliminating dealerships and selling its vehicles through brand-owned sales centers and the online platform. This allows the company to maintain control over pricing, customer service, and brand identity.
Zacua’s flagship models, the MX2 and MX3, are compact two-seater electric vehicles designed for urban mobility, with a top speed of 85 km/h. Priced at approximately $35,000 USD, Zacua positions itself in the mid-to-high-end segment of city-focused EVs. [10]
They also plan to launch two new electric models: a revamped version of its city car and a light truck for last-mile deliveries.
Zacua has partnered with COPEMSA, Mexico’s largest parking company, to enhance the country’s EV charging infrastructure. In 2025, the company announced an expansion of its manufacturing plant in Puebla, incorporating advanced technologies to streamline production and strengthen its position as a leader in Mexico’s electric mobility sector. [11]
Defunct Yet Iconic Mexican Automobile Brands
9. Mexicana de Autobuses (Inactive)
Founded in 1959Popular Models: MASA Somex, C11,
Competitive Edge: Secured long-term government contracts
Established in 1959, Mexicana de Autobuses (MASA) served Mexico’s public transportation system for decades. It modernized Mexico’s bus fleet, providing durable, locally-made buses to cities and long-distance travel routes.
During its peak years (1970s-1980s), MASA was a dominant force in Mexico’s bus manufacturing industry, competing against international brands while supplying thousands of buses to government and private transport agencies. MASA was also one of the few Mexican companies to produce electric trolleybuses, primarily for Mexico City’s public transit system.
However, by the 1990s, MASA struggled to compete with global bus manufacturers. Eventually, in 1998, it was acquired by Volvo Buses and rebranded as Volvo Buses de México.
10. Vehículos Automotores Mexicanos (Inactive)
The VAM Classic
Popular Models: VAM Gremlin, Classic, Javelin
Competitive Edge: Had government support
Established through a partnership between the Mexican government and American Motors Corporation (AMC), Vehículos Automotores Mexicanos (VAM) played a key role in the country’s automotive industry during the 1960s, 1970s, and early 1980s.
The company produced Mexican versions of AMC cars, rebadging them under its own brand while making mechanical and aesthetic adjustments, such as including adapting engines to run on lower-octane fuels and improving durability for rough roads.
By the late 1970s, the company had increased its production to around 10,000 Rambler units and 1,000 Jeep units per year. At its peak, VAM was one of Mexico’s largest car manufacturers, with a dedicated production facility in Toluca, Mexico.
VAM benefited from Mexico’s protectionist policies, which restricted foreign automakers from selling directly in the country, giving it a significant competitive edge. Unlike Ford, GM, and Chrysler— which operated assembly plants in Mexico but were still classified as foreign entities—VAM was a fully Mexican brand, receiving preferential treatment under the country’s restrictive import regulations.
However, by the early 1980s, financial struggles, economic downturns, and market liberalization led to VAM’s eventual closure. The brand was absorbed by Renault in 1986, bringing an end to Mexico’s largest domestic automaker.
Although VAM no longer exists, its legacy lives on through classic car collectors and automotive history enthusiasts. Well-preserved VAM Javelins and Gremlins continue to fetch high prices at auctions.
Read More
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- Vehicle Manufacturing, Number of light vehicles produced in Mexico, Statista
- Statistics in Mexico, Mexican auto exports up 5.4% for full year 2024, MarkLines
- Car Market Size, Mexico’s electric car market trend analysis, Mordor Intelligence
- Cristian Gnaticov, Inferno is a 1,400 HP new Mexican supercar, CarScoops
- News, RON Automóviles shows off RXX and R7 sports cars for Mexico, Autoblog
- Car Details, Tech specifications of JimmyKR, Elfi Motors
- Mastretta MXT, The engine is Ford’s Duratec inline 4-cylinder, TopGear
- Homepage, We are excellent in passenger and cargo transport vehicles, DINA
- Specifications, Engine performance and aerodynamics, VUHL05
- Technical Specifications, Mechanism and engineering, Zacua MX3
- Fernando Mares, Zacua’s vision for shared achievements, Mexico Business News
