Mexico Plans Olinia EV Reveal Ahead of 2026 Production

Mexico’s government will unveil the first designs of the Olinia electric vehicle project in late September, with plans to begin production by mid-2026, according to project director Roberto Capuano. Backed by President Claudia Sheinbaum, the initiative aims to create affordable, domestically designed and manufactured electric vehicles for public, commercial, and private use.

“In the cargo segment, we aim to provide an alternative for small businesses and companies with delivery fleets. We have already met with Sepomex as we develop our cargo vehicle,” said Roberto Capuano, Coordinator of Project Olinia. The initial lineup will include a mototaxi alternative for urban mobility, a cargo and delivery unit for small businesses and fleet operators, and a yet-to-be-detailed passenger vehicle.

The vehicle logo, revealed during the Aug. 13 presidential press conference, features a winged hare inspired by alebrijes, symbolizing agility and lightness. “It is inspired by the heart of Mexican culture; it represents intelligence, energy efficiency, freedom, and a flight toward the country’s innovation,” Capuano said. The emblem will appear on the front and rear of all models.

President Sheinbaum confirmed that design, supply and manufacturing will rely entirely on Mexican talent. “This project involves more than 100 scientists and technologists already working in Puebla, with the goal of having the first Olinia vehicles ready by mid-next year, so that we can begin mass production,” she said.

Sheinbaum added that the government is evaluating whether to manage production exclusively through public channels or to seek partnerships with private companies.

The manufacturing location has not yet been finalized. “We are working in Puebla, where our design center is located, with strong infrastructure and an automotive industry legacy. However, the plant location has not been decided,” Capuano noted.

The Olinia project is supported by an interdisciplinary team from the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), the National Technological Institute of Mexico (TecNM) and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). These institutions are collaborating at the engineering design center housed at the Technological Institute of Puebla, which will later relocate to permanent facilities.

Ramón Jiménez López, TecNM’s director general, confirmed that 20 of the 254 technological institutes in the network are contributing, with 34 full-time researchers and scientists involved. He  described the effort as “a strategic project designed by the president of our country” and compared it to past national initiatives that leveraged technical education to advance industrial capacity.