For the Mexican market, 2022 was a good year of recovery. But for me, particularly, it was exceptional. And it was like that thanks, indirectly, to this world of cars to which I have belonged for just over 25 years.
When INEGI releases the sales numbers for the year ending today next week, we will see welcome growth that left sales above 1 million with 70,000 units.. Sure, it’s still a long way from the 2016 record, which exceeded 1.6 million, but it’s still on the positive trend post-pandemic. General Motors will most likely close the year just above Nissan and the MG brand shows an unexpected (for some) muscle that points to a future of new brands, mainly Chinese, that will dominate the volume market, that is, the most popular vehicles. No less than 16% of the Mexican market already has Chinese origin. For GM de México, 60% of its sales are products imported from China. More traditional brands either follow the same recipe, or they will fight in segments of lower volume, although greater utility. The exception could be Mazda, which surprised by lowering the prices of the Mazda 2 and Mazda 3 and remains firmly seeking 10% of the market. By 2023, we also expect the arrival of brands like Bestune, Great Wall, Haval, GAC and Exeed, at the very least. The market in Mexico must continue to grow and this is excellent news.
For me in particular, celebrating 25 years in this universe of cars was a milestone that reminded me of many places., to many cars, countless trips and a good number of friends. I realized that many places can be much more or less rewarding depending on the people you share them with and in this aspect there was a not very happy note that was the change of my friend and former colleague from La Cochera and Autocosmos, Rubén Hole, what we playfully call “the dark side of the force.” Rubén is now Kia’s public relations manager and therefore the trips in which we will share good conversations while driving or having a whiskey at dinner will be much less frequent. But there were two great moments with other friends, which made up for it.
From Madrid to Antigua
My first trip out of Mexico this year was to Madrid, at the beginning of March. As always when I visit the Spanish capital, I look for Juan Manuel García Rubio, who was director of the now-defunct magazine Automóvil Panamericano during a good part of the seven years he lived in Mexico. Our affinity also led us to share cars in many events around the world. After his return to Spain, I went to visit him as often as possible, extending one or another trip to Europe for the pleasure of sharing a few hours with him. I know that many consider Barcelona the most beautiful Spanish city, but Juanma, as everyone tells him, makes Madrid, for me, the most pleasant place to be in that country. Starting the year close to him was one of the great moments of 2022.
The closure, however, was no less important. Going to Guatemala City was so pleasant for me that I can classify this recent one as one of the bestIf not the best Christmas ever. Yes, the beauty of places like Antigua, like Ciudad Cayalá, Lake Atitlán or the San Antonio Cultural Park, captivated my wife and me in a way that was as shocking as it was unexpected. But again it was the kindness of a friend that made the difference. I had the opportunity to meet Néstor Larrazabal at the spectacular Fiat events at the beginning and middle of the last decade. Leader and co-founder of FIPA (Inter-American Federation of Automotive Journalists), Néstor showed us corners of his beloved country that only a passionate local knows about. And he did it with an attention, care and kindness that left me in an eternal debt to him and his wife.
Until the rest of my days, Madrid and Guatemala City will be among my favorite destinations, all thanks to two of the best human beings I have ever met, who are part of my life thanks to this world of cars.
Yes, the Mexican market will end 2022 better than it started. Fortunately, me too. To you, dear readers, I hope you find old and new friends and that this makes you very happy in 2023.
