Wheels of Jalisco - Exploring Mexico’s car and motorbike culture

I just spent two incredible weeks in Jalisco, a western Mexican state often called the cradle of Mexican culture. It’s the birthplace of mariachi, tequila, and ranchera traditions, truly living up to its motto: “Jalisco es México” (“Jalisco is Mexico”).

My main reason for visiting was personal: to connect with the homeland and family of my fiancée, but I was equally excited to explore something I’ve loved from afar for years, Mexico’s vibrant car culture.

I first fell for it years ago playing Forza Horizon 5, a popular racing game set across Mexico. The game lets you drive through streets, highways, jungles, beaches, and deserts, surrounded by a dazzling variety of vehicles. I thought I knew what to expect, but seeing it in real life blew my expectations out of the water.

While video games often exaggerate, the real Mexican car scene is just as chaotic, eclectic, and fascinating. During my trip, I witnessed an incredible mix of vehicles navigating every kind of environment, from bustling city streets to open highways. Every corner had a story to tell.

This post is my way of sharing that experience and showing how Mexico’s car culture is something completely different from what we are used to in Europe.

Even from a stock-car perspective, it’s clear that Mexicans love their vehicles. Cars aren’t just a way to get from A to B, they mean something much more than they do for the average European.

In Mexico, a car can be a means of transport, a tool, a way to express yourself, or a status symbol, or all of the above at once. You can see the same big pickup truck take kids to school on a weekday, haul cargo for work during the day, and then carry a barbecue and a fridge on the weekend for a party with friends and family in a stadium parking lot before a soccer match.

Unlike in Europe, where streets are increasingly reserved for pedestrians, Mexican streets are built for traffic. Most shops and restaurants have parking, drive-throughs are common, and it’s normal to stop in the street for some quick tacos. Distances don’t seem to matter much, and people hop on and off their cars with ease almost anywhere in the city.

Mexico’s automotive market is dominated by global manufacturers with major production facilities across the country. Nissan, General Motors, and Volkswagen lead the pack, with Nissan topping both sales and production. In 2025, the Nissan Versa was the best-selling model, followed by the Chevrolet Aveo and the Nissan NP300. Beyond these, the variety of cars on Mexican streets is remarkable, you’ll spot countless models and brands, including a growing presence of Chinese cars.

While urban cars and small bikes are a big part of the streetscape, big pickups are an emblematic symbol of Mexico’s automotive culture. Trucks from brands like Chevrolet, Ford or RAM dominate both urban streets and rural roads. Unlike in many European cities, where such vehicles feel oversized and impractical, in Mexico they are everyday workhorses. They haul cargo, tow trailers, and even serve as family vehicles, showing just how versatile they need to be.

What I found particularly interesting is how pickups blend utility with lifestyle. Many are fully loaded with modern tech, custom interiors, and impressive audio systems, yet they’re still used to carry everything from construction materials to weekend party supplies. On any given street, you might see a shiny, brand-new GMC Sierra parked next to a heavily used Nissan truck, both equally respected in its own way. For many people, owning a big pickup isn’t just about work, it’s about status, reliability, and a vehicle that can handle whatever life throws at it.

But what truly captivated me were the classic gems scattered everywhere. The Vocho (classic Volkswagen Beetle) and the Combi (classic Volkswagen T2 van) are two of the most iconic symbols of Mexico’s car culture.

The Vocho has a special place in Mexican car culture. Introduced in the 1950s, it quickly became popular for its simplicity, reliability, and affordability. Its compact size made it ideal for navigating crowded city streets, while its air-cooled engine meant low maintenance costs. Over the decades, the Vocho became more than just a car, it became a symbol of everyday life in Mexico, from taxi fleets to family cars. Production of the classic Beetle in Mexico continued until 2003, making it the longest produced single car model in history and cementing its status as a cultural icon.

Vochos are everywhere, and each one is unique. Some are almost stock, others look like they came straight from a Baja desert race, a few are romantically rusty, while others could have rolled off the set of a Mad Max movie. Every single one felt alive, full of character, and a true testament to Mexico’s love for cars.

Alongside the Vocho, the Volkswagen Combi also became a staple of Mexican streets. Introduced in the 1960s, the Combi was used for everything from family trips to small business deliveries. Its spacious interior and versatile design made it especially popular among public transport operators and small entrepreneurs. Like the Vocho, the Combi’s durability and ease of maintenance helped it endure on the roads for decades. Both vehicles are now celebrated as classics, with restored models frequently spotted in the streets and car shows, keeping their legacy alive.

American classic cars have also had a surprisingly strong presence in Mexico for decades. From the 1950s onward, many vehicles from the U.S. (especially Chevrolet, Ford, and Dodge models) found their way across the border, either through legal importation or informal channels. Their durability, simplicity, and availability of spare parts made them ideal for everyday use, even in small towns and rural areas. Over time, these cars became more than just transportation, they became a canvas for creativity. Owners would customize them with unique paint jobs, chrome trims, and other modifications, turning ordinary cars into rolling expressions of personality and pride.

One interesting fact about American classics in Mexico is how many of them have survived longer than in the U.S. itself. While certain models were phased out or scrapped in the U.S., Mexican car enthusiasts kept them running, often using improvised repairs and locally made parts. This has resulted in entire communities of vintage cars that are still roadworthy today. Another notable trend is the adaptation of these classics into lowriders, a movement that blends car culture with art and engineering. Even beyond the lowrider scene, restored and preserved American classics frequently appear in festivals, car shows, and casual street sightings, making them a living part of Mexican automotive history.

Walking around, I was amazed at how many different classic cars you could find just parked on the streets or in small garages. I felt like a kid again, stopping constantly to take pictures of whatever caught my eye. Every car had something worth noticing.

The only thing that disappointed me a little bit were the motorbikes. Coming from Barcelona, I’m used to a city where motorbike culture is very strong and diverse, with people riding everything from small scooters to big, high performance machines. Seeing a powerful bike there feels like part of daily life, and there’s a certain excitement to spotting customizations or hearing the roar of larger engines on the streets.

In Mexico, however, the scene is very different. Most of the bikes I saw were small, usually below or around 150cc. They are practical vehicles, often used as work tools rather than leisure machines. Delivery drivers, street vendors, and even farmers rely on these compact bikes to get around quickly and efficiently. The focus is clearly on utility and affordability rather than speed or style, which was a stark contrast to what I’m used to back home.

Still, there’s something fascinating about it. These small bikes are fully integrated into everyday life, effortlessly navigating crowded streets, narrow alleys, and rough roads. While they don’t have the thrill of a big engine bike, they are essential to the rhythm of the city. Many are customized to meet the professional needs of their owners, reflecting a surprising level of mechanical creativity.

Jalisco, in particular, has taken two-wheeled culture to another level through Azfer Customs, a workshop I’ve admired for years. Since 2020, they’ve been building custom motorbikes, focusing on Cafe Racers and using brand-new Honda CRF250F bikes as their canvas. The results are stunning machines so well crafted that even a famous F1 driver reportedly considered buying one.

During my visit to Guadalajara, I had the chance to stop by their café inside the workshop. It was incredible to see these bikes up close; each one felt more like a piece of art than a vehicle. From carefully shaped exhaust pipes to tiny custom details, it was easy to appreciate the skill and passion poured into every build.

Mexico’s car and motorbike culture is unlike anything I’ve experienced before. It’s not just about machines, they’re living, breathing parts of daily life, expressions of identity, creativity, and community. From classic Vochos and Combis to restored American muscle cars and huge pickup trucks, every vehicle has a story to tell.

Leaving Jalisco I realized that what makes this culture so unique is the connection between people and their machines. Cars and bikes aren’t just tools, they’re companions, symbols, and sometimes even works of art. It’s a culture built on ingenuity, passion, and practicality, and one that I hope to return to, camera in hand, ready to discover more hidden gems across the streets of Mexico.