Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard held high-level meetings with Japanese corporate leaders and diplomats at the National Palace to strengthen economic cooperation, safeguard regional supply chains, and address regulatory challenges under the USMCA. The bilateral discussions coincide with contrasting shifts in Mexico\u2019s automotive sector during the first half of 2026, where a 44% surge in domestic electric and hybrid vehicle sales, driven heavily by Asian brands, clashes with a 57% drop in domestic electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing destined for the slowing US export market.<\/p>\n
Bilateral Investment and Trade Facilitation<\/p>\n
The executive meetings focused on securing foreign direct investment and resolving operational friction for Japanese corporations operating within Mexico. The foreign delegation was led by Seiji Kuraishi, president of the Japan-Mexico Economic Committee and advisor to Honda Motor, alongside members of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) and the Japanese Ambassador to Mexico, Kozo Honsei.<\/p>\n
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According to official figures released by the administration, Japan maintains a significant industrial footprint in the country.<\/p>\n
“In our country, there are 1,600 Japanese companies that generate 350,000 direct jobs,” President Sheinbaum stated following the talks.<\/p>\n
Parallel discussions led by Economy Minister Ebrard, alongside Undersecretary of Industry and Commerce Ximena Escobedo and Undersecretary of Foreign Trade Luis Rosendo Guti\u00e9rrez, focused heavily on the North American trade landscape. The Ministry of Economy (SE) confirmed it is actively tracking 39 prospective Japanese investment projects. Over the past five months, the ministry resolved 90% of identified business environment friction points, with both nations agreeing to maintain continuous coordination regarding energy policies, customs operations, and trade facilitation.<\/p>\n
Corporate participants representing the Japanese private sector included executives from Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, Panasonic Holdings, NSK, Mitsubishi Electric Automotive, Mitsubishi, All Nippon Airways, and ANA Holdings. The Ministry of Economy reported that the delegation “highlighted the importance of working together to strengthen the presence of Japanese companies in Mexico,” while Ebrard reiterated Mexico’s commitment to “facilitate investments and strengthen competitiveness and value chains.”<\/p>\n
Domestic Electrification Surge vs. Export Production Slump<\/p>\n
The diplomatic push to anchor Asian industrial supply chains comes amid major structural shifts in the Mexican automotive market. Data from the\u00a0AMIA<\/a> and the\u00a0INEGI<\/a> reveal that domestic sales of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles reached 95,037 units during the first half of 2026, up 44% from the 65,991 units sold in the same period of 2025. Electrified models now account for 12.6% of all vehicle sales in Mexico, compared to 9.2% last year.<\/p>\n Chinese automaker\u00a0BYD<\/a> has established clear dominance in this expanding sector. Between January and June of 2026, BYD sold 33,969 units, capturing 35.7%, nearly four out of every ten, of the country’s total electrified vehicle market. The company currently markets four fully electric models and seven plug-in hybrids, including the entry-level BYD Dolphin Mini.<\/p>\n