Claudia Sheinbaum Highlights Olinia Project’s Economic Potential

On Dec. 20, 2024, during her morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum reaffirmed her commitment to the Olinia project and emphasized the importance of collaboration with key institutions such as Instituto Tecnológico Nacional de México (ITN), IPN, and the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation. By highlighting these partnerships, Sheinbaum underscored their crucial role in the development of the project, which is a central part of Mexico’s Fourth Transformation initiative aimed at promoting clean energy and technological innovation across the country.

As previously reported by Mexico Business News, Olinia is a key initiative to boost Mexico's national automotive industry. The vehicle, which will be 100% designed and manufactured in Mexico, is positioned as a compact electric car that aims to compete with models from countries like China and India, but with a unique Mexican identity. Named after the Nahuatl word for "to move," Olinia is also aligned with Mexico’s broader clean energy goals, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional combustion engine vehicles.

In a recently released video, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum shared more details about the Olinia electric vehicle, emphasizing her commitment to making the car both accessible and affordable for Mexican consumers. This video provided an important update on the Olinia project, which was first announced in October 2024. Sheinbaum also mentioned that the Olinia will be priced similarly to a motorcycle, though the exact comparison is unclear due to the wide price range of motorcycles. “The goal is to make this car affordable for everyday Mexicans,” Sheinbaum stated.

In the video, Sheinbaum emphasized that Olinia will be built with locally sourced components, leveraging Mexico’s existing industrial capacity, particularly in the production of electric motors. “We want to create an affordable, compact car for the Mexican people, reducing reliance on motorcycles and offering a safer, more sustainable option,” Sheinbaum stated. 

The car will likely be produced in Sonora, in alignment with the state’s Plan Sonora, a sustainable energy development initiative focused on clean tech. Although not 100% confirmed, both Sheinbaum and Governor Alfonso Durazo have suggested that Sonora is a highly probable location for Olinia’s production.

The Sonora Sustainable Energy Plan is central to Mexico's energy transition and is expected to make Sonora a national and international hub for clean energy development and climate action. Governor Durazo has highlighted Sonora’s potential as an ideal location for manufacturing electric vehicles like Olinia. This plan also aligns with Sheinbaum’s broader Technological Development for Innovation program, which aims to advance sustainable mobility and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Although prototypes are already under development, Sheinbaum has not set an official launch date for Olinia. The project aims to reduce Mexico's dependence on imported vehicles, stimulate the national automotive supply chain, and create local jobs. Olinia is expected to help position Mexico as a key player in the global electric vehicle market.

In addition to Olinia, Sheinbaum highlighted several other technological initiatives under her administration. These include the creation of a semiconductor development center, which is essential for advancing Mexico's position in the global tech sector. "We need to ensure that patents for these innovations benefit both public institutions and the private sector, allowing us to design and produce semiconductors in Mexico," Sheinbaum said. The government is also advancing projects such as climate measurement satellites and buoys, which are critical for addressing climate change and mitigating the impacts of natural disasters in the country.