Mexico's light vehicle production increased by 956.08% in May in the year-on-year comparison, while exports grew by 1,498.65%, the national statistical institute, Inegi, said on Friday.
The peaks registered in the manufacture of automobiles and shipments abroad during the fifth month of the year are due to the fact that they are compared with May 2020, during the closures of trade and industry due to the health emergency of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The reopening of the plants occurred in the last days of May, so the plants barely assembled 22,862 units, when the monthly production is around 300,000 vehicles.
In May of this year, manufacturers assembled 241,442 vehicles, a figure that is still below pre-pandemic levels, due to the ravages of the health crisis and stoppages due to a shortage of semiconductors.
In Mexico, the General Motors, Stellantis and Volkswagen plants are by far the most affected by the shortage of chips, according to data from the National Auto Parts Industry. Also Nissan, Honda and Toyota have had to stop the production of units for a few days due to the lack of semiconductors.
Between January and May, vehicle manufacturers accumulate 1.33 million units, 38.7% more than in the same period of 2020. Accumulated exports total 1.17 million units, 37% more than in the first five months of last year.
