Stellantis, Pirelli to Invest in Mexico

Stellantis and representatives of the Mexican government discussed future investments for the EV market, while Pirelli will start R&D operations in Guanajuato. Meanwhile, Colombia became Mexico’s main destination for vehicle exports in Latin America. 

While many are working on the acceleration of electromobility, others doubt that such a transition is feasible in the short term in Mexico, such as Abastecedora de Productos Automotrices.

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Stellantis to Build Hybrid, Electric Vehicles in Mexico

The executive directors of the automaker Stellantis met with representatives from the Mexican government to discuss the company’s future investment plans in Mexico. The meeting focused on the hybrid and EV market, which requires collaboration between the private and public sector to take off in the country. While no specific data was officially revealed, Rogelio Ramírez de la O, Minister of Finance and Public Credit said that this plan seeks to support the future mobility in the country and create jobs. Read the full story here.

Electromobility a Distant Reality for Mexico

While many believe that Mexico’s transition toward electromobility is closer, the aftermarket sector still bets on a future with a strong market for ICE vehicles. “The country will not transition to electromobility in the short term because Mexico relies on oil and no government will sacrifice a third of the country’s revenue. The country also lacks infrastructure for EV and its energy is extremely expensive. Despite the transition toward electromobility in other regions, Mexico and Latin America are still years away from achieving it,” said Juan Antonio García, Strategic Planner, Abastecedora de Productos Automotrices, to MBN. Read the full interview here.

Pirelli Expands R&D Operations in Mexico

The R&D center in Mexico joins Pirelli’s 13 R&D centers around the world. Pirelli’s R&D center in Guanajuato will incorporate state-of-the-art technology to produce tires designed for the mobility of the future, which will be electric, sustainable and connected. The center will have an area of ​​6,680 m2, which will be next to the plant’s 200,000 m2. It will adopt the principles of Industry 4.0 and strengthen the innovation ecosystem in Guanajuato. “The Silao R&D center will help increase Pirelli's technological and industrial competitiveness throughout the North American region and increase the company's ability to serve and support premium brands, primarily in the US,” said Paolo Benea, CEO, Pirelli México, to MBN.

Material Technology’s Pivotal Role in Industry Transformation

For decades, steel and metal alloys have been the preferred materials for vehicle manufacturing, mainly because of their performance and cost. However, current industry trends demand more advanced materials to boost the fuel economy of modern vehicles, while maintaining safety, performance and cost-effectiveness. Short-term lightweight materials, long-term lightweight materials, 3D printing and nanotechnology are transforming the offerings of the industry. Learn more about it here.  

Colombia is Mexico’s Main Destination for Vehicle Exports in Latin America

Colombia displaced Brazil as the main importer of Mexican vehicles in Latin America. During 1H2022, Mexico exported 13,317 light vehicles to Colombia. The Mazda CX-30, Nissan March and the Nissan NP300 were the most exported units to this market. In the last 10 years, exports to Colombia increased following the free trade agreement signed with Mexico in 2011, as reported by Bloomberg.