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Industrial News Report WEEKLY LATEST NEWS IN MEXICO
OCTOBER 14, 2026
NEWS BY STATE NEW INVESTMENTS US MEXICO RELATIONSHIP LEGISLATIVE UPDATES PRODENSA INSIGHTS
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US - MEXICO NEWS
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US-MEXICO NEWS
SHEINBAUM MEETS WITH RONALD JOHNSON AND BUSINESS LEADERS AT PALACIO NACIONAL President Claudia Sheinbaum met with U.S. Ambassador Ronald Johnson and more than 30 Mexican and U.S. business representatives at Palacio Nacional, in a meeting focused on trade, investment and the broader bilateral relationship. Participants included representatives from the American Chamber of Commerce, export-oriented companies and the steel industry, alongside Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, CCE President José Medina Mora and Altagracia Gómez. Sheinbaum described the conversation as positive and highlighted the confidence of U.S. companies investing in Mexico. Business representatives focused heavily on the USMCA review. Medina Mora said the private sector’s main concern is securing a 16-year extension of the agreement with six-year review periods, arguing that greater certainty would support additional investment. He also expressed interest in reducing Section 232 tariffs affecting Mexican steel, aluminum and vehicle exports. AmCham representatives said they see room for a partial bilateral understanding in the coming weeks and will maintain working tables with the Economy Ministry on USMCA, legal certainty and infrastructure. The meeting also covered border security, migration and bilateral cooperation against drug trafficking. Sheinbaum said additional investment announcements would be presented later, while Altagracia Gómez indicated that potential projects involve pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, energy and agriculture-related ac-
tivities. Sheinbaum also confirmed that she and Ambassador Johnson agreed to hold a separate follow-up meeting to continue discussing bilateral issues. SOURCE: EL HERALDO, LA JORNADA
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US-MEXICO NEWS
U.S.-MEXICO BORDER SECURITY OPERATION The United States and Mexico deployed hundreds of personnel along the Texas–Tamaulipas border after U.S. officials reported that Coast Guard members came under fire near Garceno, Texas, on September 26. The U.S. Coast Guard said the gunfire came from the Mexican side and that personnel returned fire; no injuries were reported and the source of the initial shots was not identified. President Claudia Sheinbaum requested evidence of the alleged cross-border gunfire, saying Mexican armed forces had not detected shots originating from Mexican territory. Both governments later agreed to conduct coordinated “mirror operations” on their respective sides of the border. Mexico deployed 500 Army and National Guard personnel in Tamaulipas, supported by helicopters, drones and anti-drone equipment, while the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation. SOURCE: WASHINGTON POST
U.S.-MEXICO SECURITY COOPERATION SPARKS DISPUTE OVER QUERÉTARO POLICE ACADEMY A new police-training academy in Querétaro has become the center of a dispute between the federal government, the state government and the U.S. Embassy over the rules governing international security cooperation. The project, part of the Rhino security complex, is designed to train police in tactical inspection techniques to detect hidden compartments and intervene in crimes involving drugs, weapons, money, banking operations and other forms of smuggling. The academy is linked to cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and is expected to be completed in January 2027. President Claudia Sheinbaum said the project does not yet have federal authorization and stressed that cooperation with foreign institutions must be approved through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the HighLevel Security Group. The controversy began after Querétaro Governor Mauricio Kuri and U.S. Ambassador Ronald Johnson attended the laying of the first stone on October 2. The SRE later said it had been informed of Johnson’s visit, but not of the specific securitycooperation purpose of the event and offered to accompany the state government in completing the required procedures. SOURCE: EL PAIS
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US-MEXICO NEWS
SHEINBAUM REJECTS U.S. PRESSURE CLAIMS OVER MORENA CANDIDATES President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected claims that Morena had yielded to pressure from the United States in selecting its virtual candidates for the 2027 elections. The accusation came from PT leader Alberto Anaya, who argued that U.S. pressure had influenced the selection of more centrist candidates. Sheinbaum called the claim “absurd” and said it had no basis, stressing that Morena’s state coordinators were chosen through internal polling. The dispute also exposed tensions within the governing coalition ahead of the 2027 elections. Anaya said he did not see sufficient willingness from Morena and the PVEM to form a full coalition and maintained that the PT could compete independently. Separately, internal disagreements have surfaced within Morena over some of the designated coordinators, including in Nuevo León. SOURCE: EL FINANCIERO
MEXICAN AUTO EXPORTS FALL AS U.S. TARIFFS WEIGH ON INDUSTRY Mexico’s auto exports fell 12% year-on-year in September, their sharpest decline since December 2025, while vehicle production dropped 15%. The figures marked the largest export contraction so far in 2026. Domestic sales moved in the opposite direction, increasing 8% during the month and partially offsetting weaker external demand. The decline comes as Mexican-made vehicles continue to face a 25% U.S. tariff, although Mexican officials estimate that compliance with USMCA rules of origin can reduce the effective burden to around 10%–12%. General Motors, Ford and Nissan recorded significant export declines in September, while Kia, BMW and Mazda increased shipments. Despite the slowdown, Mexico remains the largest foreign supplier of light vehicles to the U.S., accounting for around 16% of the market. In the first nine months of 2026, Mexican auto exports to the U.S. declined 5%, while shipments to Canada increased just over 9%. SOURCE: REUTERS
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LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AND INITIATIVES
FOREIGN TRADE • DRAFT DECREE AMENDING AND ADDING VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE CUSTOMS LAW — Presented by: Federal Executive (President Claudia Sheinbaum). Finance and Public Credit Committee, Chamber of Deputies. — Purpose: Promote the adoption and use of digital and electronic payment methods, reducing reliance on cash and expanding access to digital financial services. The law requires federal, state, and municipal
authorities to enable electronic payments for public services and procedures. It also establishes obligations for businesses and service providers to implement the necessary payment infrastructure, including digital transfers and other electronic payment systems. The Ministry of Finance may determine sectors and activities where digital payments will be required, while digital identification mechanisms, including CURP Digital, may be used for financial services. — Status: 06-10-2026 - Approved in general and in particular by the Chamber of Deputies, Sent to the Senate for further legislative consideration.
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LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AND INITIATIVES
LABOR • DRAFT DECREE AMENDING AND ADDING VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE FEDERAL LABOR LAW REGARDING THE RIGHT TO DIGITAL DISCONNECTION — Presented by: Senator Emmanuel Reyes Carmona (Morena).
— Purpose: Establish the right to digital disconnection DIGITAL ECONOMY • DRAFT DECREE ISSUING THE DIIGITAL ECONOMY LAW FOR DIGITAL AND ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS — Presented by: Federal Executive (President Claudia Sheinbaum). Finance and Public Credit Committee, Chamber of Deputies. — Purpose: Strengthen customs oversight and combat the undervaluation of imported goods by expanding verification mechanisms and adjusting precautionary embargo procedures. Customs authorities may initiate verification when declared values are lower than those of identical or similar goods. For discrepancies below 20 percent, importers may substitute a precautionary embargo with a cash deposit or customs guarantee. The reform also strengthens penalties for inaccurate or false documentation involving hydrocarbons and petroleum products, establishing fines ranging from 50 to 100 percent of the commercial value of the goods. — Status: 06-10-2026 - Approved in general and in particular by the Chamber of Deputies. Sent to the Senate for further legislative consideration.
for all workers, regardless of their work arrangement, allowing them to refrain from responding to work-related calls, messages, emails, or instructions outside working hours, during rest days, vacations, and leave. Employers would be prohibited from penalizing workers for exercising this right and required to establish internal digital disconnection policies, including rules for after-hours communication, emergencies, and on-call duties. Work performed outside regular hours at the employer’s request would count as working time and be compensated accordingly. Exceptions would apply to emergencies, extraordinary circumstances, and previously established on-call arrangements. Violations could result in fines ranging from 50 to 500 UMA. — Status: Referred to Senate committees for review and consideration.
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NEWS BY STATE
BAJA CALIFORNIA Maquiladoras in Tijuana are buying and installing backup generators in response to frequent power outages, according to José Luis Contreras Valenzuela, president of the Mesa de Otay Industrialists Association (AIMO). He said demand for generators is rising, but running them is expensive because diesel and gas prices are climbing. He also warned that even short blackouts seriously disrupt produc-
tion. Contreras says the outages show the transmission infrastructure is in poor condition, poorly maintained and too small for the city’s needs. State energy official Joaquín Gutiérrez Ley instead blames unusually high temperatures that have pushed up air-conditioning use. He added that CFE plans to build three new substations in the city’s most critical areas, including the east zone. Meanwhile, Index Zona Costa president Federico Serrano Bañuelos said the association is advising its members to use electricity more efficiently. SOURCE: INDUSTRIAL NEWS BC
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NEWS BY STATE
CHIHUAHUA Chihuahua’s Automotive Cluster is now the Chihuahua Mobility Cluster, a rebrand witnessed by the state’s Ministry of Innovation and Economic Development (SIDE). The automotive industry stays at its core, but the cluster now also covers heavy-duty freight transport, agricultural machinery, and electric, recreational and autonomous vehicles. It will also include other activities tied to moving people and goods. Cluster president Jorge Alberto Charles Madrigal said the broader scope will bring in new value chains and gradually help small and medium-sized companies become specialized suppliers. Economic Development Secretary Ulises Fernández Gamboa said the state is building on more than six decades of experience in manufacturing, electronics, engineering and design. Chihuahua’s automotive supply chain currently includes more than 400 companies and about 180,000 direct jobs. The cluster’s priorities are to strengthen regional supply, develop specialized talent and give its members more exposure on national and international platforms. The new identity will be formally launched on October 15 at Networking 2026, under the slogan “Built to evolve.” SOURCE: PRO CHIHUAHUA
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NEWS BY STATE
NUEVO LEON Nuevo León’s Home Appliances Cluster (CLELAC) has voted to expand its scope to include data centers, making Nuevo León the first state in Mexico to formally bring the data center ecosystem into an existing industrial cluster. The change links home appliances, cooling and data centers, which share technologies, talent and much of the same supply chain. That chain includes HVAC and chillers, thermal management, electrical components, switchgear, cabling, automation and metalworking. The state already hosts major players such as
Vertiv, Schneider Electric, ABB, Siemens, Trane, Carrier, Daikin, Eaton, GE Vernova and Honeywell. The Mexican Data Center Association (MEXDC) projects about US$82.5 billion in data center investment in Mexico between 2026 and 2031. It also expects more than 98,000 construction jobs and 35,000 operations jobs. CLELAC president Baldwin Britton and state officials said the goal is to connect incoming investment with local suppliers, talent and universities, so new projects grow inside the state instead of simply locating there. SOURCE: GOVERNMENT OF NUEVO LEON
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NEWS BY STATE
COAHUILA Coahuila will host the first Automatch Coahuila on March 10–11, 2027, at the UA de C University Cultural Center, Arteaga Campus, in the state’s southeast region. The forum is organized by the Mexican Machinery Distributors Association (AMDM), the Coahuila Automotive Cluster and the state government. It aims to connect automotive and manufacturing companies with suppliers, buyers, technology and investment opportunities. The event will include a trade show of machinery, equipment and manufacturing technology, plus a program of talks and workshops. It will
also host more than 150 pre-scheduled B2B meetings, with about 80 specialized companies taking part. Coahuila was chosen because of its weight in auto parts: in the first half of 2026 it produced US$10.08 billion in auto parts, or 15.8% of national output, and drew US$221 million in auto-parts FDI. Topics will include e-mobility, automation, digitalization, advanced manufacturing and supply chain realignment within North America. A key focus is finding imported components and processes that national and regional suppliers could provide instead. SOURCE: PLAYERS OF LIFE
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NEWS BY STATE
GUANAJUATO On October 12, 2026, General Motors began producing the next-generation 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 at its Silao, Guanajuato plant, ahead of every other facility in the U.S. and Canada. The first units off the line were Crew Cab models. Silao will be the only plant building these pickups for the rest of 2026, and it will add Regular Cab production on February 8, 2027. Fort Wayne Assembly in Indiana joins in early 2027, building Crew Cab models and then Double Cab versions starting April 12. Oshawa, Ontario, is ab-
sent from the schedule, though GM has not confirmed it will stop building the Silverado. Silao’s Crew Cabs will mainly use GM’s new sixth-generation naturally aspirated V8s: the 5.7L L76 and the 6.6L L78. Before the launch, the plant paused production for several weeks in July and August to retool. Supply chain executive Noel Vaquera said the start in Mexico challenges the idea that manufacturing is moving back to the U.S. He added that launching first means Silao takes on the early problems, from supplier PPAP delays to fit issues, so the U.S. plants can start once those are resolved. SOURCE: CLUSTER INDUSTRIAL
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NEWS BY STATE
QUERETARO Querétaro is making e-mobility a priority to strengthen its automotive industry and cut transportation emissions, according to the state’s Sustainable Development Secretary, Marco Antonio Del Prete Tercero. Speaking at LATAM Mobility México 2026, he said the state’s approach rests on three pillars: efficient regulation, charging infrastructure and specialized talent. On regulation, he said the goal is not fewer rules but smarter ones that encourage innovation
and cleaner, more accessible mobility. The state government is already installing EV charging stations across the capital city to support adoption. Querétaro also plans to develop talent that can design and build electric vehicles and create local technology. Del Prete said this is needed because the automotive sector is shifting toward e-mobility systems and decarbonization is now a public policy priority.
SOURCE: CLUSTER INDUSTRIAL
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NEWS BY STATE
STATE OF MEXICO At the Naturgy México Conecta event, officials and business leaders said that available energy is now essential for drawing industrial investment to Mexico. The State of Mexico’s Energy Commission, created about two years ago, is building a diagnostic of the state’s electrical and energy infrastructure. Commission director Gabriel Pérez said the goal is to map where capacity exists and where new investment is needed, so energy doesn’t block companies looking to set up there. The commission also works with federal agencies to handle specific supply requests from companies. José Luis Urrutia of Canacintra
said the government can’t meet the scale of energy investment alone and called for stronger public-private partnerships. He noted that companies are looking at cogeneration, energy storage and distributed generation. Mexico City’s Economic Development Secretary, Manola Zabalza, said the capital is limited in land, water and energy. Its plan is to focus on low-footprint industries such as technology and environmental solutions. She also pointed to a rooftop solar project on company facilities that reached 18 MW and could be repeated on other large buildings, though doing so would require simpler regulations. SOURCE: MEXICO INDUSTRY
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INVESTMENT NEWS
CENTRAL MEXICO VMI GROUP VMI Group, a Dutch supplier of equipment for the tire industry, announced on October 9 the inauguration of new technical support facilities in León, Guanajuato. The 1,000 square meter site will provide technical support and customer service for tire manufacturing machinery, with Pirelli and Michelin among its clients. The opening is part of VMI’s expansion in Mexico, and the Guanajuato Undersecretary of Investment Attraction attended on behalf of the state Secretary of Economy, Cristina Villaseñor.
HS HYOSUNG HS Hyosung, the South Korean advanced materials company, announced on October 7 an investment of 60 million dollars to build an automotive carpet plant in the Colinas Industrial Park, in Villa de Pozos, San Luis Potosí. The project is expected to create 250 direct, specialized jobs, with operations starting in 2027. San Luis Potosí Governor Ricardo Gallardo Cardona announced the investment, and the state Secretariat of Economic Development is following the formalization of the agreement.
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INVESTMENT NEWS
NATIONAL NESTLÉ Nestlé, the Swiss food and beverage company, announced on October 8 an additional investment of 1 billion dollars in Mexico, which doubles its commitment in the country to 2 billion dollars. President Claudia Sheinbaum made the announcement at her morning press conference and stated that Nestlé executives informed her of the plan. The investment covers production and innovation across several processing lines, from coffee to pet food, and includes a coffee program planned for 2028 to 2030 with 70,000 coffee plants and 2,000 producers in Veracruz.
FLYING WHALES Flying Whales, a Franco-Canadian cargo airship developer, announced on October 9 a projected investment of 300 million dollars in Mexico over the next three years, following a memorandum of understanding with the Secretariat of Economy. The plan contemplates three airship manufacturing bases, a pilot training school, and a commercial office for Latin America, and is expected to create 300 local jobs. Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard met with Flying Whales President Sébastien Bougon. SOURCES: MEXICO INDUSTRY, SEDECO SLP, JORNADA MX.
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WHAT’S NEW IN PRODENSA?
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WATCH FULL VIDEO
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PRODENSA INSIGHTS
Where to Land: How to Choose the Right Mexico Location (Part 1) Choosing the right manufacturing location in Mexico is a strategic decision that goes beyond selecting a state or industrial park. Labor availability, infrastructure, logistics, utilities, and proximity to suppliers can all influence operational efficiency, investment costs, and long-term growth. For manufacturers evaluating Mexico, a structured site selection process helps identify potential risks, compare locations, and align real estate decisions with business objectives. • Why location decisions require more than cost comparisons • What manufacturers should evaluate when comparing sites • How strategic site selection supports long-term competitiveness
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PRODENSA INSIGHTS
Construction Reality at the Site Selection Decision Choosing an industrial site is only the beginning. A location that looks attractive on paper may present construction challenges related to infrastructure, site conditions, permitting, or facility requirements—potentially affecting project timelines, budgets, and operational readiness. This article explores why construction feasibility should be considered early in the site selection process and how evaluating potential risks before committing to a location can help manufacturers avoid costly surprises. • Why construction feasibility matters before selecting a site • How infrastructure and site conditions can affect project execution • Why early technical assessments support better investment decisions
How to Hire a Manufacturing Rep in Mexico Hiring a manufacturing representative in Mexico can help international companies build local relationships, identify business opportunities, and navigate the country’s industrial market. However, finding the right professional requires understanding the role, local hiring practices, compensation structures, and employment obligations. This article explores what companies should consider when recruiting a manufacturing representative and how the right hiring strategy can support market entry, business development, and long-term growth in Mexico. • What to look for when hiring a manufacturing representative • Why employment structures and local compliance matter • How local expertise can support market expansion
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