Please, Mrs. Claudia

Statistics are a mirror, or rather, a portrait of society, or fragments of it. They are the tool that allows us to understand how we are and where we should go. But in the world of cars in Mexico, they have always been elusive, slippery, secretive. Many brands use them to serve their own interests, perhaps without considering that they are not the only ones doing so, and because of this, they navigate in murky waters amidst fog with very low visibility. But the authorities can resolve this.

Transparency in information isn't very common in these parts. I remember that, before the internet, you'd call a dealership to ask the price of a car, and they wouldn't tell you. They'd ask where you were from, and if you said you were a potential customer, they wouldn't believe you. In short, they wouldn't answer. The same thing happened with car sales statistics. When the numbers were collected by AMIA and AMDA, the Mexican manufacturers' and distributors' associations, respectively, there were brands that for a while held, let's say, third place in sales, and by December they "sold" more than anyone else, magically taking second place.

The media did not have access to sales information by car model; this was reserved for members or those willing to pay 25,000 pesos annually for the report, an expense that no media outlet in Mexico authorized you to pay (yes, a mistake and shortsightedness on the part of those media, but it was the reality).

This manipulation of numbers has already led to the departure of some presidents and CEOs of brands in the country, which is sad for them and for the public, who has been deceived once again.

A few years ago, the task of collecting car sales data in Mexico was transferred to the INEGI (National Institute of Statistics and Geography), which improved transparency and gave the public, for the first time, access to car sales by model. The problem is that these statistics are still based on reports from manufacturers, which are often unreliable and, in some cases, particularly with Chinese manufacturers, simply don't report them at all.

Do the right thing

The reality is that car sales statistics are essential, not just a curious fact. For the country, knowing how many new vehicles are entering cities helps with city planning, as well as the nation's infrastructure.

And the situation is getting worse. Many Chinese brands refuse to report their sales. Last year, sales reached 1.495 million units, but that number would undoubtedly be higher if brands like Geely and, especially, BYD, reported their sales. No one doubts that the latter is a resounding success. It's now almost impossible to go out on the street without seeing one or more cars from that Chinese brand. But we don't know if they sold 50,000, 60,000, or 80,000.

Chirey recently stopped reporting its sales. And in its case, the strategy is understandable. By reporting such negative numbers over such a long period of time, some potential customers might feel discouraged from purchasing some of its models, considering that a brand experiencing a sharp and sustained drop in sales volume might not be as strong in the market. Obviously, no one wants to buy a car from a brand if they think it will soon be discontinued. Mind you, I'm not saying this will happen; I'm simply highlighting and insisting that its strategy of no longer reporting sales may be due to the intention of not projecting the image of a brand in decline in the Mexican market. There are rumors that several Chinese brands are joining forces and advising people not to report their sales.

It is, however, a relatively easy problem to solve if national authorities simply decide to publish the number of cars actually registered in the country. Because everyone, sooner or later, needs license plates to drive (permits shouldn't exist, but that's another topic). Given the importance of knowing the true number of cars circulating in the country and giving manufacturers and distributors who have invested in Mexico the tools they need to plan their businesses, as well as giving the public greater peace of mind to invest in the second largest expense for families after a home, it would be wonderful if our president mandated the publication of the list of license plates, separated by make and model. It's that simple.