Reports on some recent and upcoming investment collected from the local business media:

  • Automotive:  Nissan and Volkswagen have announced plans to begin production on new models in Mexico this year, expanding current production.  Nissan will build a new compact model at its Aguascalientes plant, in addition to adding production of its new Micra model also at the Aguascalientes location.  Volkswagen will launch production of a mid-size sedan as well as new models of the Beetle and Jetta at its Puebla facility.
  • Electronics: Electronics industry leaders Samina-SCI and Hewlett Packard have announced plans to expand operations this year in Jalisco state, site of Mexico’s leading electronics cluster.  Sanmina projects investment of US$10 million in new machinery and equipment for manufacturing, and Hewlett Packard is investing US$5 million in infrastructure upgrades to expand staff at its Center of Excellence in Guadalajara.
  • Manufacturing: Danish cleaning equipment manufacturer Nilfisk opened a US$10 million facility in the central state of Queretaro.  The new plant will produce industrial cleaning machines.
  • Airports: Airport operator Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico announced planned investment of approximately US$42 million for this year in infrastructure upgrades.  Of the group’s 12 airports in Mexico, those at Guadalajara and Los Cabos are slated to receive the largest share of the upgrade investment.
  • Electrics: French electric equipment and process control component manufacturer Schneider Electric inaugurated a new Technology Innovation Center in the north eastern industrial city of Monterrey.  The new center, which will simulate various applications for Schneider equipment such as industrial automation, critical power and energy efficiency, joins the company’s existing facilities in Monterrey and Mexico City.
  • Railroad: Mexico’s cargo railroad operators have announced investment plans totaling over US$325 million for 2010.  Operators such as Kansas City Southern de Mexico, Ferromex, Ferrosur, Ferrovalle and Ferroistmo plan to boost spending this year in areas such as maintenance, infrastructure development and expansion, urban facilities and new technology, among others.
  • Automotive: Ford de Mexico announced joint investment together with its suppliers of US$3.1 billion to produce the new model Fiesta at Ford’s Cuautitlan plant outside Mexico City.  Production of the new model is slated to begin sometime around mid-2010.
  • Renewable energy: The Mexican government’s Shared Risk Fund (Firco) plans an aggressive program of rural renewable energy infrastructure installation to be financed with support from the World Bank and the Global Environment Fund.  The Sustainable Rural Development Program includes plans to acquire and install 500 thermal solar systems, 300 biodigesters and 100 photovoltaic energy systems, in addition to carrying out 180 analyses of agricultural energy efficiency by 2012.