Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, has suggested that the company Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, has suggested that the company might not build a plant in Mexico if Donald Trump, a candidate for the U.S. presidency, imposes tariffs on imported vehicles manufactured in Mexico if elected. if Donald Trump, a candidate for the U.S. presidency, imposes tariffs on imported vehicles manufactured in Mexico if elected.

This statement has raised concerns in various sectors, particularly in the automotive industry. However, for auto parts suppliers in Nuevo León, the announcement has not caused alarm.

Tesla’s plant in Nuevo León, announced in March of last year, has been a constant topic of speculation. While the plant's construction was expected to increase demand for auto parts, local suppliers have yet to see significant changes in their operations.

Current orders primarily come from Tesla's factory in Austin, Texas, with no new investments specifically tied to the Mexican plant.

Manuel Montoya, director of the Nuevo León Automotive Cluster, explains: “We continue working with what we already have. In fact, we've grown significantly with Tesla because we supply many parts for the Austin plant. There are about 60 suppliers already established, who also purchase from our local suppliers, so that part of the chain is already quite solid.”

The possibility of tariffs under a Trump presidency could pose a challenge for the Nuevo León plant, but Montoya assures that the current situation has had no tangible impact on local suppliers.

“It’s true that decisions are often delayed during election seasons, and that’s happening here as well, but this doesn’t affect us because nothing has happened yet… If Tesla’s investment materializes, it would be great, but either way, we’re already working with them on electromobility projects,” he says.

According to the National Auto Parts Industry, the construction of Tesla’s plant could have increased auto parts production by 7%. However, Montoya clarifies that any changes to the project won’t impact current production due to the lack of specific orders or new factories aimed at that plant.

“As long as the investment isn’t finalized, the entire supply chain remains in a wait-and-see mode. But since nothing has started yet, it doesn’t affect us at all,” he emphasizes.

From January to April this year, the value of auto parts production in Nuevo León reached $5.374 billion, making it the third-highest-producing state in the country.

Some manufacturers in the region—such as Anemia and Bosch—are now focusing on hybrid vehicles, which are gaining traction over electric ones.

“It’s not about emotions; it’s about business,” Montoya says. “The value chain will focus on what’s selling. Today, gasoline cars and increasingly hybrids are in demand, so that’s where we’ll be,” he concludes.

Source: https://expansion.mx/empresas/2024/07/26/cancelacion-planta-de-tesla-mexico-no-seria-el-fin-del-mundo-para-proveedores