Mexico and South Korea ranked as the top automotive suppliers to the United States in 2025. Furthermore, they posted the strongest growth rates among the top five in the ranking.
President Trump imposed 25% tariffs on vehicle imports. These tariffs take effect in April 2025, with exemptions for vehicles that comply with the USMCA and contain U.S. components.
Automotive Suppliers to the United States
In 2025, international vehicle trade in the United States reached record levels:
- Imports: 8 million vehicles (valued at $208 billion).
- Exports: 2.7 million vehicles (valued at $62.6 billion).
The U.S. import market is highly concentrated. Five trading partners (Mexico, Japan, the European Union, South Korea, and Canada) accounted for:
- 96% of the total value of imports.
- 98% of the total volume of vehicles imported.
Mexican Manufacturing
In terms of volume, comparing 2025 with 2019, Mexico recorded a 64.4% increase in exports of vehicles subject to the 25% tariffs. These exports reached 3,197,600 units.
The automotive sector is one of the most competitive in Mexican manufacturing. Furthermore, it is deeply integrated into North American value chains. Companies based in Mexico export primarily to the United States.
In the same comparison mentioned above, South Korea (1,394,800 units, +52.2%) and Japan (1,383,100 units, -20.3%) ranked second and third, respectively.
At the bottom of the table were Canada (1,139,500 units, -27.0%) and the European Union (665,000 units, -17.1%).
On the other hand, Canada established itself as the main destination for U.S. auto exports. It accounted for 32% by value and 21% by volume.
Foreign Investment and Local Production
The presence of foreign automakers in the U.S. remains a key driver of the domestic economy:
- Cumulative Investment: Through 2024, foreign automakers invested $124 billion in the country.
- Domestic production: In 2024, these companies manufactured 4.9 million vehicles, nearly half of the 10.2 million cars produced in total in the United States.