Mexico Business Blog

Considerations on trade, business, politics and life in Mexico

Posts Tagged automotive

Recent and upcoming investment

Jul 13

Posted by Tom in Economy, Investment, Manufacturing | No Comments

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

  • Water treatment:  Mexican sugar producer Grupo Azucarero México (GAM) revealed it will begin construction next month on a new waste water treatment plant.  GAM has invested US$35 million over the past four years in automation process technology, as well as a system for generating electricity through steam produced by burning cane bagasse.
  • Logistics: Guanajuato’s Guanajuato Interior Port multimodal logistics center will enter a new phase of expansion in the coming months.  Approximately US$55 million in new investment will be carried out to expand existing infrastructure at the site, which includes Customs facilities, a free zone, ground and air cargo handling services, industrial yards and related operations.
  • Automotive: German engine components maker Getrag Transmissions Manufacturing inaugurated a new production plant in the central city of Guanajuato.  The US$500 million facility will manufacture transmissions for the Ford Fiesta line being built at Ford’s Cuautitlan Izcalli plant outside Mexico City.
  • Manufacturing: French digital media manufacturer Technicolor will begin making 3D Blu-ray discs for Warner Brothers at its Guadalajara plant this year.  The company is investing US$11.4 million in the plant to boost production capacity.
  • Green building: Mexican developer Homex announced plans to develop four new housing complexes in north western Mexico based on the concept of Integrated Sustainable Urban Developments.  The first of these complexes will require investment of US$27 million and all will incorporate green building technologies.     Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , ,

Recent and upcoming investment

Jun 1

Posted by Tom in Economy, Investment, Manufacturing | No Comments

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

  • Real Estate:  Mexican real estate developer Marhnos announced plans to build up to five office towers in Mexico City over the next five years.  The company is projecting investment of approximately US$1.5 billion in the projects, which will be carried out in alliance with New York-based developers Turner International.
  • Apparel: Sports apparel and footwear maker Grupo Charly is manufacturing in Mexico again after an absence of six years.  The  Mexican company offshored the last of its domestic production to Asia in 2004, but began to move some manufacturing back home last year to improve delivery times.  They project ramping up Mexico production to 600,000 pairs of sports shoes over the next three years.
  • Automotive: Nissan Mexicana has reported plans to invest US$600 million at its plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico, to manufacture a new model car.  The auto maker plans to build 50,000 units annually of the new model, which will include 75% components from domestic suppliers.
  • IT: Mexico’s top telco Telmex announced it will significantly expand its Triara Data Center over the coming two years.  The US$100 million facility provides integrated hosting services, data storage, backup and connectivity solutions to domestic and international corporate clients as well as government agencies.
  • Automotive: U.S. truck maker Navistar announced its Mexican subsidiary Navistar Mexico will increase production by 50% by the end of the current year.  The company’s US$250 million facility in Escobedo, Nuevo Leon is the largest truck and bus chassis manufacturing plant in Latin America. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , , ,

Recent and upcoming investment

Apr 29

Posted by Tom in Economy, Investment, Manufacturing | No Comments

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

  • Beverage:  Mexican beverage giant and retailer FEMSA announced plans for US$750 worth of investment this year.  The lion’s share of the funds will go toward upgrades and expansions of bottling plants, while the remainder will support the company’s Oxxo chain of convenience stores.
  • Automotive:  Chinese autoparts maker Minth opened a manufacturing plant in the northern state of Aguascalientes.  The plant, representing a total investment of US$16 million, is planned to supply molding and interior components to Nissan, Ford, Chrysler and Fiat plants in Mexico.
  • Mining: Mining companies operating in Mexico will invest a combined US$13.8 billion through 2012, according to the Mexican Mining Chamber (Camimex).  The chamber projected that expansions and upgrades of operations in mining zones will contribute toward improvements in roads, electrification, potable water and other basic infrastructure in the areas. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , ,

Recent and upcoming investment

Apr 7

Posted by Tom in Economy, Investment, Manufacturing | 1 Comment

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

  • Steel:  Mexico’s steel manufacturing industry chamber of commerce Canacero projected investments of US$10 billion over the next five years to significantly boost production in the sector.  Canacero estimates production will increase 13.5% this year over 2009, when output dropped significantly.
  • Airports: The Mexican Ministry of Transport (SCT) announced plans for three new airports to be constructed in 2010, with investment of US$36 million.  The local airport developments are planned for La Pesca in the northeast and the tourist sites Creel in the north and Palenque in the south.
  • Transport: Inter-city bus operator Grupo IAMSA reported it plans to add 300 new luxury buses to its fleet this year.  The US$100 million investment is slated to go primarily to Volvo for the new buses.
  • Aerospace: French aerospace manufacturer Grupo Safran inaugurated two new plants in an aerospace park in the central state of Queretaro, site one of Mexico’s leading aerospace clusters.  The approximately US$150 million investment set up plants for Safran’s affiliates Messier-Dowty and Snecma to produce jet engine parts and undercarriages.
  • Solar power: BP Solar, the solar technology subsidiary of Great Britain-based energy giant BP, announced plans to subcontract the assembly of solar modules with Jabil Circuit in Chihuahua, northern Mexico.  Plans call for producing modules with a combined capacity of 45 MW, with the possibility for expansion as demand dictates. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Recent and upcoming investment

Feb 26

Posted by Tom in Investment, Manufacturing | No Comments

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

  • Plastics:  The Manufacturing Industry Chamber of Nuevo Leon (Caintra) announced an initial US$1 million investment to build the Mexican Institute for Technological Innovation in Plastic and Rubber in the Monterrey area.
  • Electronics: IBM formally inaugurated new manufacturing installations in Jalisco developed at an estimated cost of US$20 million.  The facilities are intended specifically for the production of IBM’s high-end XIV Storage Systems for export to the United States, Europe and other areas.
  • Toys: Spanish toy manufacturer and retailer Imaginarium announced ambitious plans to expand operations in Mexico with an initial investment of US$1.6 million.  The company plans to open over 40 new retail locations in the country by 2013, in addition to potentially manufacturing in Mexico.
  • Retail: Despite underwhelming economic recovery, Mexico’s top retailer Wal-Mart de Mexico announced plans to invest over US$900 million this year.  The plans include the opening of 300 new locations across the company’s various retail formats and the remodeling of existing stores.
  • Mining: Canadian mining company First MajesticSilver Corp. opened a mineral processing plant in the northern state of Coahuila in late 2009.  The US$22 million plant will produce gold and silver. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Recent and upcoming investment

Jan 29

Posted by Tom in Investment, Manufacturing | No Comments

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. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , ,

Recent and upcoming investment

Oct 30

Posted by Tom in Economy, Investment, Manufacturing | No Comments

We’re still alive, trying to punch our way out of this rueful economic funk.  Here are some reports on recent and upcoming investment culled from local media:

  • Automotive:  Truck maker Daimler Vehículos Comerciales is reporting that it has doubled production from 35 to 70 units per day at its Saltillo plant over the past three months.  The company is investing US$300 million in its plants in the states of Coahuila and Mexico to increase truck production in anticipation of a recovery in demand in the United States in 2010.
  • Retail: Retail and real estate group Grupo Gigante recently opened its 200th Office Depot store in Mexico, and projected overall sales growth of 8-9% for 2009 across its formats, despite the steep recession.  Gigante projected total investment in Mexico this year at over US$100 million, with two shopping malls under construction and plans to begin work on another in Acapulco.
  • Mining: Mexican mining firm Piero Sutti announced the discovery of potentially colossal lithium deposits that could make Mexico one of the world’s largest producers of the metal in the future.  Various international manufacturers of electronic equipment have reportedly expressed interest in potentially sourcing lithium from the Piero Sutti mine.
  • Tourism: Hotel operator AMResorts recently inaugurated a new resort and spa in Cancun with following investment of US$117 million.  The hotel group is reportedly exploring opportunities to build or acquire hotels in Cozumel, Playa Mujeres and other locations in Mexico’s south eastern state of Quintana Roo.
  • Hospitality: Hotel operator InterContinental Hotels Group announced ambitious plans to invest US$550 million over the next three years to open 58 new hotels in Mexico.  The plans reportedly include the strengthening of the brands Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express in Mexico, InterContinental’s fourth largest market.
  • Electronics: Japan-based electronics manufacturer Yokogawa inaugurated a new manufacturing plant in the State of Mexico, just outside Mexico City.  The US$20 million facility is set to produce process control devices, current converters and other electronic equipment.
  • Airports: Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (Asur) is nearing completion of major upgrades to the international airport at Cancun.  Projects included in the US$67 million upgrade include the construction of a second runway, a control tower and a connecting bridge.
  • Automotive: Ford de Mexico is nearing completion of a massive US$3 billion rehabilitation of its former manufacturing plant in Cuautitlán, State of Mexico.  The remodeled plant is planned to begin large scale production of the Ford Fiesta in the first quarter of 2010.

Tags: , , ,