AWL Invests US$12.54 million To Expand Operations in Queretaro

AWL Group expanded its operations at its facilities in El Marqués, Querétaro, in the Bajio area after an MX$250 million investment (US$12.54 million). Dutch Ambassador to Mexico Wilfred Mohrs, General Manager of AWL México Lucas Díaz, and local government representatives took part in the opening ceremony.

AWL is a Dutch system integrator and machine builder with expertise in digitalization, automation, and logistics for different sectors including automotive, construction, and furniture. "It is important to be close to our customers, most of them European Tier 1 companies that moved to Mexico," said Díaz last month during the webinar “Automotive Mexico: Advanced Manufacturing Hub of the Future,” organized by Holland House. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Icji9RLA1uA&t=8s

Local representative from the El Marques municipality Mónica Guerrero welcomed AWL México as she highlighted the role it plays for the local automotive industry as a source of local employment and development. "It is a pleasure to welcome and be here to launch the expansion of AWL’s El Marqués plant. It is encouraging to see how the different sectors that promote progress and development continue to trust in our municipality," she said.

The expansion will create 50 new jobs in the automotive sector and an additional 100 jobs, impacting more than 150 local families. According to Guerrero, the El Marqués municipality has received technology-related investment from more than 38 countries and despite the pandemic has managed to increase the number of formal jobs in the area. "We also consider ourselves a global player with a local soul," she said.

Between 1Q15 and 3Q19, Queretaro has accumulated US$1.17 billion in FDI solely for auto parts manufacturing. Between 2015 and 2018, Queretaro's FDI in the automotive and aerospace sectors grew at an average of 40.7 percent year-on-year. As in many other states in the region, however, accumulated FDI in the vehicle and auto part manufacturing sector decreased by 53.2 percent in 2019 compared to 2018, according to government figures.

"Our goal at AWL is to ensure global productivity. What we do is support companies to ensure productivity and the only way to do that is by being close. The automotive industry is, as we all know, time-sensitive so every minute counts. We are at driving distance from our customers, which helps a lot to grow their business," Díaz said during the Holland House webinar.