China–Mexico Daily Brief | J.D. Power: two Chinese brands lead volume-brand reliability

J.D. Power Mexico study: JAC and Great Wall Motor rank as the two most reliable volume brands

J.D. Power released its 2026 Vehicle Dependability Study for Mexico on 5 November, based on 10,471 original owners of 2023–2025 model-year vehicles. The industry average was 229 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), unchanged from 2025; lower is better. JAC ranked first among volume brands at 115 PP100, with Great Wall Motor second. Among owners of Chinese brands, 40% say they will "definitely" rebuy the same brand, against 44% across the industry. China-built vehicles scored 245 PP100 (251 a year earlier); Japan-built vehicles scored 197, the lowest of the production countries listed.

CSIS researcher warns tighter USMCA auto rules of origin could raise costs

El Economista reported on 8 November that Diego Marroquín Bitar, a researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told the US International Trade Commission (USITC) in testimony that US Section 232 tariffs have coincided with a sharp contraction in regional auto trade. He said the value of US passenger-car imports from Mexico fell 20% in January–July 2026 against the same period of 2024, while total US goods imports from Mexico rose almost 24%. He added that Mexican-built vehicles contain about 40% US components on average. In his view, tightening origin rules further could raise costs and push production out of North America; he suggests the review focus on electronic components such as semiconductors, sensors and displays.

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Mexico's customs agency publishes psychotechnical exam rules for customs brokers

Mexico's Official Gazette (DOF) published on 6 November an agreement from the National Customs Agency (ANAM) setting out how the psychotechnical exam is applied for a customs broker licence (agente aduanal) and for broker representatives (mandatario). Under the November 2025 Customs Law reform, the exam has two stages: reliability and psychological. The guidelines take effect on the business day after publication and stay valid until ANAM has its own evaluation centre, the applicable rules change, or replacement guidelines are issued. The document is dated 3 November.

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Honda opens a Jalisco line to build motorcycles that used to arrive from China

Expansión reported on 7 November that Honda opened a new line at its El Salto plant in Jalisco, adding capacity for 66,000 motorcycles a year, with a target of nearly 240,000 units for the year. The line will build models above 150 cc such as the NX190, CB190 and CB150, a segment that until now largely arrived from China, according to the outlet. The models are for the Mexican market and Honda has no short-term export plans for them. The company expects its Mexican sales to grow 14% this year, against about 10% projected for the whole market. The plant also makes auto parts, where activity has slowed; around 180 workers had insufficient workload.