On Tuesday, October 26th, the virtual discussion panel "The Future of Electromobility in Current Supply Chains" was held, organized by Cluster Industrial. The panel addressed current challenges in the automotive industry, as well as some projections.

The panel featured Alfredo Arzola, CEO of the Automotive Cluster of Guanajuato (CLAUGTO); Jan Seumenicht, Vice President of ZKW Mexico; Carlos Velázquez, Lead Buyer for High-Pressure Aluminum Injection Components at ZF; and as moderator, Ricardo Vivero, CEO of Cluster Industrial.

Ricardo Vivero began by explaining that the sector is currently committed to promoting the production and use of electric and hybrid vehicles to address environmental concerns. He mentioned that one of the challenges for their production is the fact that they require different parts compared to internal combustion engine vehicles. He added that in Mexico, from January 2016 to July 2021, 114,301 electric and hybrid vehicles have been sold, comprising 1,834 fully electric vehicles, 7,800 plug-in hybrids, and 104,651 conventional hybrids.

Additionally, he emphasized that the United Nations urged developed countries to stop producing internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035.

On his part, the Director of CLAUGTO mentioned that governments in different countries are pushing for the entry of these types of vehicles into the market due to environmental reasons. He said that next year, the launch of 16 models of electric vehicles will be seen, with the United States being where the highest consumption will be found. Meanwhile, until 2026, the launch of around 240 electric vehicles will take place, with Germany, China, and the US as leaders.

Carlos Velázquez addressed some myths about this type of vehicle. He mentioned that, according to an article by Greenpeace in Spain, it was concluded that with telecommuting, CO2 emissions decreased by 7-8%. He added that the largest lithium deposits are found in Bolivia, Congo, Mexico, and Indonesia, so he invited reflection on what it implies to transition to electric mobility, as these are countries with somewhat less regulated regulations.

Regarding the Vice President of ZKW Mexico, he mentioned that 85% of the workers in the automotive industry in Mexico are part of a Tier 1 or 2. He explained that an internal combustion engine vehicle has around 6,000 components, while an electric one has between 3,600 and 4,000. Therefore, several Tier 1 and 2 companies will have to adapt their business offerings to survive.

Regarding the current challenges of the industry, Alfredo Arzola explained that since vehicles are durable goods, economic changes can impact the industry significantly. He also mentioned that a challenge regarding electric vehicles is public policy because the country needs to acquire the necessary infrastructure and undergo cultural changes. Finally, Alfredo highlighted that some plants in Mexico are already designing electric vehicles.