Borderlands Mexico is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week in Borderlands Mexico: China automakers gain ground in Mexico as U.S. exports soften; OmniTRAX restarts Central Texas rail line with quarry deal; and China’s Windrose delivers first Class 8 EV in US, targets long-haul market. China automakers gain ground in Mexico as U.S. exports soften U.S. finished-vehicle exports to North America are showing early signs of softening, just as Chinese automakers rapidly gain market share and expand their footprint in Mexico — a shift that could reshape cross-border automotive freight flows. Passenger vehicle exports from U.S. plants showed signs of cooling early in 2026, according to preliminary trade data, though detailed country-level figures for February have not yet been released. At the same time, new data from Mexico underscores the strength of the market that Chinese automakers are targeting. Mexico produced 343,520 light vehicles and exported 310,205 units in March, with exports rising 4.2% year over year, according to the latest data from Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). For the first quarter, Mexico exported 795,631 vehicles, up 2.5% from a year earlier. The figures highlight Mexico’s continued role as a critical production and export hub — even as competitive dynamics begin to shift. Mexico becomes focal point for Chinese automakers Mexico is emerging as a key battleground in the global auto market. Chinese automakers including BYD and Geely have rapidly expanded their presence in Mexico in recent…
