Business · Trade · 15 hrs ago
Hyundai Creta shipment makes Vietnam a new source for Mexico
Hyundai has shipped Creta vehicles from Vietnam to Mexico, making Vietnam a new source of cars for the Mexican market.
The move matters because Mexico introduced tariffs of up to 50% on vehicles from countries without a free-trade agreement with it.
Vietnam and Mexico both belong to the CPTPP trade agreement, which can give qualifying vehicles tariff preferences if they meet its origin rules.
Hyundai said it moved Creta production from India to Vietnam to avoid an additional tariff cost.
The cars are assembled by Hyundai Thanh Cong, a joint venture between South Korea's Hyundai and Vietnam's Thanh Cong.
The company plans to export 15,280 vehicles in 2026 to Mexico, Australia and Taiwan, and expects the Creta to be its biggest export model that year.
It plans to send the Tucson Hybrid and Santa Fe Hybrid to Mexico and Australia later in 2026.
Hyundai’s first shipment of Creta vehicles made in Vietnam has made Vietnam a new source of cars for Mexico.
Before the shipment, no brand imported vehicles made in Vietnam for sale in Mexico, according to Expansión MX.
Hyundai moved Creta production from India to Vietnam to avoid an additional tariff cost.
Vietnam and Mexico are both members of the CPTPP, which can provide tariff preferences for vehicles that meet the agreement’s rules of origin.
Hyundai Thanh Cong plans to export 15,280 units in 2026, with Mexico among the planned destinations.
- Who
- Hyundai is shipping Creta vehicles made in Vietnam to Mexico.
- What
- The first shipment makes Vietnam a new source of vehicles for the Mexican market.
- When
- The first shipments were celebrated in mid-August; the article was published on October 15, 2026.
- Where
- The vehicles are made in Vietnam and destined for Mexico.
- Why
- Hyundai moved production from India to Vietnam to avoid an additional tariff cost. Vietnam’s membership in the CPTPP can provide tariff preferences for qualifying vehicles.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Hyundai sales in Vietnam reached 81,582 units, their annual high in recent years.
Sales in Vietnam fell from 67,450 units in 2023 to 53,229 in 2025.
Mexico began applying tariffs of up to 50% to vehicle imports from countries with which it has no free trade agreement.
Hyundai Thanh Cong celebrated the first shipments of vehicles made at its plants for Mexico and Australia.
Hyundai Thanh Cong plans to export 15,280 units, including complete vehicles and component kits.
- First shipment
- Hyundai Creta made in Vietnam for Mexico
- Tariffs
- Up to 50% on vehicle imports from countries without a free trade agreement with Mexico
- Trade agreement
- CPTPP, of which Vietnam and Mexico are members
- 2026 export plan
- 15,280 units: 10,160 complete vehicles and 5,120 component kits
- Planned destinations
- Mexico, Australia and Taiwan
1 source
What people are saying
In the case of Creta, technically it has not become more expensive because before there was an additional tariff cost, what happened was that we moved production from India to Vietnam. And that way we avoided the additional cost.
Exports are the result of years of developing production capacity and meeting the technical and quality standards required by foreign markets.