What Are Mexican Cars Called?

In Mexico, people most commonly call cars “carros” or “autos,” while “coche” is understood but less typical than in Spain; the classic Volkswagen Beetle has its own famous nickname: “vocho” (also “bocho”). This article explains everyday usage, regional nuances, popular nicknames, and the models currently built in Mexico so you can use the right term in the right context.

Everyday words Mexicans use for “car”

Several words are correct in Mexico, but frequency and tone vary by region, register, and audience. Here’s how each term tends to be used in practice.

• carro: The most common, everyday word nationwide for “car” or “vehicle.” Neutral and broadly understood.
• auto (short for automóvil): Common and slightly more formal; frequent in news, advertising, and official contexts.
• coche: Perfectly understandable in Mexico, but more strongly associated with Spain; usage in Mexico varies by region and speaker, and some hear it as less typical or old-fashioned.
• automóvil: Formal/legal or technical term (e.g., in regulations, insurance, specifications).

In most day-to-day Mexican Spanish, “carro” will sound natural and local, “auto” will sound neutral-to-formal, and “coche” will be understood but can feel more Iberian depending on the setting.

Nicknames and iconic references

Beyond the generic words, a few models and categories have acquired enduring Mexican nicknames—some so widespread that they’re cultural shorthand.

• vocho/bocho: The Volkswagen Beetle (Sedán). An emblematic Mexican nickname tied to decades of local production and taxi use.
• combi: The Volkswagen Type 2 microbus/van, commonly used as a shared minibus in various cities and towns.
• Tsuru: Nissan’s long-running budget sedan (discontinued), once ubiquitous as a taxi; the name still conjures the era of bare-bones city cabs.

These nicknames reflect how certain vehicles became part of everyday life; “vocho,” especially, is almost synonymous with a chapter of Mexico City’s urban history.

Slang you’ll hear around the street and shop

Like any car culture, Mexico has slang that signals region, age, and scene—from mechanics to enthusiasts and everyday drivers.

• nave: A cool, desired, or high-performance car.
• carcacha/cacharrito: A beater or jalopy.
• ranfla: Street slang for car, heard in some urban circles.
• troca: Pickup truck (from English “truck”); very common colloquial term.
• camioneta: Formal/neutral for pickup, SUV, or small van (context disambiguates).
• camión: Bus or large truck (not a car).

These terms shift the tone from neutral to colloquial; “troca” and “camioneta” coexist, with the former more slangy and the latter more standard.

When “coche” doesn’t mean “car”

Spanish varies by country. In Mexico, “coche” can also be a regional or old-fashioned word for “pig,” though “cerdo” and “puerco” are far more common today. In Argentina and Uruguay, “coche” can mean a baby carriage or railcar; in Mexico, a baby stroller is “carriola.” In Spain, however, “coche” is the default for “car.”

Cars that are made in Mexico today

Sometimes people mean “Mexican cars” as in vehicles built in Mexico. The country is a top global producer and exporter, assembling a wide range of models for North America and beyond. Examples as of 2024 include:

• Volkswagen (Puebla): Jetta, Taos, Tiguan (long-wheelbase)
• Audi (San José Chiapa): Q5, including the Q5 plug‑in hybrid (TFSI e)
• Nissan (Aguascalientes): Versa, Sentra, Kicks (depending on market allocation)
• General Motors: Silverado/Sierra (Silao); Blazer and Equinox, including EV variants (Ramos Arizpe)
• Ford: Bronco Sport and Maverick (Hermosillo); Mustang Mach‑E (Cuautitlán)
• Stellantis: Jeep Compass (Toluca); Ram pickups, including Heavy Duty and Classic variants (Saltillo)
• Kia (Pesquería, Nuevo León): K3 (successor to Rio), Forte
• Mazda (Salamanca): Mazda3, CX‑30
• Honda (Celaya): HR‑V
• Toyota (Guanajuato and Tijuana): Tacoma
• BMW (San Luis Potosí): 3 Series, M2 (and related 2 Series Coupe variants)
• JAC (Ciudad Sahagún, Hidalgo): Various ICE and EV models assembled with local partner Giant Motors

Production portfolios evolve with model cycles and investments, but the list shows why “Mexican cars” can refer either to language use or to vehicles manufactured in Mexico for domestic and export markets.

Usage tips if you’re speaking Spanish in Mexico

If you want to sound natural and be clearly understood, these quick pointers cover the basics across most regions.

• Default to carro in casual conversation; use auto in neutral or formal contexts.
• Use coche with awareness it can sound Iberian; it’s still understood across Mexico.
• Say camioneta (neutral) or troca (slang) for pickups and many SUVs.
• Remember camión is a bus or large truck, not a car.

With these choices, you’ll match local usage while avoiding common cross‑country confusions in Spanish.

Summary

Mexicans typically call cars “carros” or “autos,” with “coche” understood but less locally marked than in Spain; the classic VW Beetle is affectionately the “vocho.” Slang like “nave,” “carcacha,” and “troca” adds color, while “camioneta” and “camión” distinguish SUVs/pickups from buses and big trucks. If someone says “Mexican cars,” they might also mean vehicles built in Mexico—ranging from VW Jetta and Ford Maverick to Toyota Tacoma and BMW 3 Series—underscoring the country’s global role in auto manufacturing.

What do Mexicans call lowriders?

For those who are unfamiliar with the colloquial term “lowrider” (or, bajito y suavecito), it is used to characterize a car with a suspension lowered inches from the ground. The term also refers to the driver of a lowrider.

Are lowriders Mexican or black?

Historically, lowriders were mostly Latino men from Texas, the Southwest, and southern California. Since the 1950s, car clubs and family members have converted older cars for cruising, shows, and competition at events, as they still do today.

What is a lowrider car called?

Chevrolet Impala
It’s the 1961–1964 editions, however, that have been burned into the public consciousness as the prototypical lowrider. This was due to having an axle both in the original Chicano culture that gave birth to the phenomenon and another in the world of hip-hop, which adopted the ’64 Impala as an icon.

What car brands are Mexican?

Best Mexican car brands in 2025

• Zacua. Dedicated electric car maker Zacua has designs on pollution and congestion in Mexico’s biggest cities.
• Mastretta.
• Ron Automoviles.
• Elfi Motors.
• Inferno Automobili.
• Kiri.
• Solana Cars.