The Guanajuato Automotive Cluster (Claugto) held the Media Day for the Automotive Supply Forum (FPA) and Claugto Automotive Congress (CAC) virtually, intending to share valuable information for various industries and highlight the most relevant data about both events.

The event featured the participation of Mauricio Usabiaga, Secretary of the Ministry of Sustainable Economic Development (SDES); Luis Rojas, CEO of COFOCE; Rolando Alaniz, President of Claugto; Alfredo Arzola, CEO of Claugto; José Vargas, Operations Manager at Claugto; Gabriela Flores, Commercial Manager at Claugto; Miriam Galván, Coordinator of the Operational Excellence Committee; Miguel Reyes, Coordinator of the Human Capital and Asset Security Committees.

The Director of Claugto started by discussing the overall landscape of the automotive industry. He commented that, in the current context, the industry is undergoing a titanic shift, and what we are experiencing as a society involves the reconfiguration of industries and public policies. He highlighted that the automotive industry encompasses various sectors and, therefore, sets trends.

He emphasized that the changes we are experiencing have positioned Mexico as the 4th largest supplier of auto parts to the United States and the 4th largest vehicle exporter globally.

The President, Rolando Alaniz, explained that as part of Claugto's work, "they designed several strategies linked to the triple helix: Industry, Government, and Academia, where a fourth helix is added, which includes you, the media, or whether you are a student, worker, professional, or entrepreneur.

José Vargas, on the other hand, addressed the topic of the Automotive Supplier Forum, which will take place virtually from September 6th to 10th and aims to boost the economic development of the state by facilitating the connection between buyers and suppliers in B2B business encounters.

Now, the following purchasing companies have been confirmed: ADAC Strattec, Bader, Freudenberg, Hope Global, IK Plastic, Inalfa, Mazda Logistica, NHK Springs, Okawa, VCST, American Axle, Mitsui, and Yachiyo.

Miguel Reyes and Miriam Galván discussed the details of the Claugto Automotive Congress, which will be held virtually on August 17, 18, 19, 25, and 26. It will consist of 20 presentations and 11 workshops focusing on various industries, aiming to provide valuable tools for decision-makers. This year's program is based on Claugto's committees: Asset Security, Human Capital, Operational Excellence, Purchasing, and Supplier Relations.

Luis Rojas, Director General of COFOCE, provided figures on automotive exports. From January to December 2019, there were recorded $20.6 billion in exports. In 2020, the figure was $20.004 billion. Vehicle exports accounted for $4.2 million for the State by the end of 2009. By 2020, despite the pandemic, there was significant growth, reaching over $9.4 billion.

The auto parts sector represents 28% of our State's exports, while the automotive sector represents 47% of exports. This generates over 70,000 jobs.

Finally, Mauricio Usabiaga, Secretary of SDES, closed by outlining the state's development. He mentioned that in the early 1990s, Guanajuato exported a maximum of $300 million, while by the end of 2019, it exceeded $23 million, largely due to the automotive industry, which accounts for almost 70% of the state's exports.

More than 200 economic units, categorized as Tiers, are established in Guanajuato and were attracted by the large OEMs we have in the region. These Tiers require 122 thousand people as personnel, and when adding all activities in the industry, it reaches around 180 thousand.