Fueling Success: Zacua's Vision for Shared Achievements

Q: How has Zacua built its presence in the Mexican market? 
A: Zacua has built a strong presence in Mexico, with an extensive network of charging infrastructure throughout the country. Our strategic alliance with COPEMSA, the largest parking company nationwide, has played a vital role in expanding our reach. This partnership has allowed us to utilize COPEMSA's land infrastructure to install charging stations that are accessible to the public.

Zacua follows the American standard for power outlets, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of electric vehicles. As a result, anyone can recharge their vehicles with us, free of charge. To locate the nearest charging station, individuals can visit our website, where we provide information for easy accessibility.

Q: What are your perspectives on recycling EV batteries alongside COMPEMSA? 
A: This is a long-term alliance. The minimum lifespan of a battery is around 10 years. Since our cars are still relatively new, with the first deliveries made three to four years ago, the battery life cycle has not yet ended. 

This is a well-organized plan that will be implemented in the next six to seven years. Batteries will be reused at parking lots to power their lighting systems, giving batteries a second life for another 30 years. We will be able to utilize the materials for a minimum of 40 years. The goal is to make this an open initiative, aiming at receiving batteries from other brands. If you want to advance in electromobility, you have to be collaborative. Moreover, if you genuinely want to prioritize ecology, you cannot be a traditional corporate company that is closed-minded and self-centered. Anything that is good must be open and our project is definitely good.

Q: What is the level of participation of women in the automotive sector and what is Zacua doing to improve this scenario?  
A: The automotive industry was built around two things: the combustion engine and the male gender. Today, with electromobility, the combustion engine is no longer relevant. Similarly, we are acknowledging that the industry can no longer be just a male-dominated industry. 

There must be spaces for women, not handed to us just because but, rather, opening up opportunities for us to show what we can do. Only 17% of the industry is made up of women. If we look at higher-level positions, the percentage drops to around 3% of women holding such roles. Out of approximately 60 automotive brands in our country, only three women occupy a CEO position, which shows us that there is still a long way to go. We need to continue working to create spaces where women can come and prove with their actions that they deserve to be here. This is part of what we are trying to do at Zacua.

We are working on sharing our experiences and providing tips to companies that invite us. By sharing our journey and the things we have encountered, we hope that other companies can draw inspiration and gather insights to motivate themselves and others to take action.

Q: What is the perspective of female participation in the automotive industry within the next five years? 
A: When I entered the sector, the discussion about women had a lot to do with me because I was one of the first to discuss it when we created Zacua. That is when the topic started to be brought up. 

Today, the topic is being discussed openly. This interview is proof of that. The media’s role in spreading awareness and drawing attention to the topic helps to keep the conversation going, which is how companies begin to take action and commit themselves. 

I see a lot of collaboration from the male gender but there is still work to be done in the HR department. HR teams should be prepared to hire and provide appropriate training for women in this industry. Motivation is also essential because, when you enter an industry where you have never been before, you go through a learning curve. Support and empathy are necessary in aspects that only women experience. Women who desire to be mothers or have a family require certain flexibilities to balance their personal, family and professional lives. However, my perspective is positive. For example, last week I gave a speech to women in a company. The company has 1,300 employees and 800 of them are women, which is more than 50%. 

There is a widespread misbelief that Zacua has only female engineers on its staff. We recognize the need to put in more effort and work toward achieving a 50/50 gender ratio in our company. Our goal is to promote equity and we believe that excluding men is not the solution. Instead, we focus on fostering collaboration and establishing effective communication channels between both genders. A balanced workforce is essential to us and we have entrusted women with important responsibilities, providing them with opportunities they have not had before. 

Q: What are Zacua’s plans for the long term? 
A: I want to consolidate the brand and help other entrepreneurs who want to establish car brands. We can assist them with the technology we have developed and start bridging the gap, encouraging more efforts and attempts from other ventures. As I mentioned in a speech, the future is uncertain and one of our main goals is to support other Mexican entrepreneurs in developing their projects in the automotive sector, we want to be that agent of change. We must share everything that is good and our aim is to foster the evolution of Mexican projects. Building a car brand is not an overnight process, but in 20 or 30 years, we want to see the results of the work we are doing today.

In the coming years, I envision Zacua being more consolidated, with our second-generation vehicles and an established network of dealerships. 

Zacua is a 100% Mexican OEM focused on EV development. The company started production in the country in 2018, the same year it released its first two models, the M2 and M3. The company is committed to collaborative sustainability and boosting female participation in the automotive sector.