AMDA requests adjustment of NOM for Chinese automakers to disclose sales

The lack of traceability of some Chinese brands in the automotive industry has already caused anger among conventional firms that report sales, production, and export statistics to the INEGI (National Institute of Statistics and Geography), and even make ongoing investments. Therefore, representatives of the automotive sector will push for regulations requiring new entrants to provide transparent data, or face sanctions.

The proposal is to propose that the Ministry of Economy update the Mexican Official Standard (NOM) that regulates commercial information, but this time focusing on the automotive industry. This would allow for transparency, guaranteed information, statistics, and the prevention of consumer deception, but above all, would require the authority to impose sanctions.

AMDA President Guillermo Rosales reiterated that some Chinese car brands are not reporting their sales to INEGI, which makes it difficult to obtain a complete picture of the automotive market. The assumption is that they sell a certain number of units, which poses a risk to the accuracy of the statistical information.

The fact that most Chinese automotive companies do not report their new car sales statistics in the Mexican market to the INEGI (National Institute of Statistics and Census) has already generated anger among the other brands that do so on time, to the point that they have expressed their intention not to do so until the rest of the players operate under the same reporting conditions.

"The failure to report sales data leads to distortions and a lack of transparency that affect decision-making," he said.

The 30 German, Japanese, American, and Korean companies have been reporting their data to INEGI since 2005, while some Chinese companies, such as MG, Changan, JAC, Great Wall Motor, Foton, Auteco, and Motornation, have also been doing so since their sales operations began.

Although Chirey and Omoda, as well as Jetour, were part of the INEGI sales survey group, at the beginning of the year they decided to stop reporting until their sales recovered.

While brands such as BYD, Geely, GAC Motor, SEV, Bestune, and Zeekr have begun operations, they are not reporting their sales figures to the INEGI (National Institute of Statistics and Geography), and they have not yet determined when they will do so.

Currently, INEGI lacks the authority to sanction and require Chinese companies to submit their car sales figures. It only collects sales information and adds it to the Vehicle Registry, but companies are not required to do so.

The NOM on commercial information that is being promoted must consider transparency in the competition, for consumers, and for analysts themselves, in order to have real panoramas of the industry.

Chinese cars have gained popularity in the Mexican market due to their prices, hybrid and electric technologies, gadgets, luxury, and other attractive features, such as financing. Those that report to INEGI already represent 8.2% of the car sales market.

Brands such as MG, Changan, Foton, GWM, JAC, and Motornation totaled sales of 56,086 units. According to figures from brands that have not yet reported, they have sold at least another 50,000 units.