Geely & BYD Are High Bidders For Nissan/Mercedes Aguascalientes Plant, Probably Increasing Mexican EV Manufacturing

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Current reviews out of Mexico point out that Nissan and Mercedes are promoting their three way partnership manufacturing unit in Aguascalientes, Mexico, and the highest bidders have been narrowed right down to BYD and Geely.

General, this represents a dramatic shift for legacy automakers in Mexico. Whereas Chinese language autos have quickly risen to take 20% of the Mexican new automobile market, the manufacturing unit will result in important localized capability. That may assist to develop native provide chains that may help additional localization, with implications not just for the Mexican market, but additionally its close by buying and selling companions.

Nissan’s Shuttered Mexican Factories Go away a Hole within the Market

A bit of over a decade in the past, Nissan was a quickly rising firm underneath Carlos Ghosn. This was particularly the case in Mexico. Jose Munos, Nissan’s then head of Mexican operations and present CEO of Hyundai, had led Nissan to develop into the most important model in Mexico for a number of years.

In that context, corporations had been desirous to accomplice with Nissan. Mercedes teamed up with Nissan in 2015 to construct COMPAS (Cooperative Manufacturing Plant Aguascalientes), subsequent to current Nissan manufacturing services. Manufacturing began in 2017. The plant was supposed to make premium compact autos for Mercedes (GLB) and Nissan’s Infiniti model (QX50 & QX55). Complete manufacturing capability was 230,000 autos.

Nonetheless, occasions have modified. Nissan has gone from a fast-growing, worthwhile firm and EV chief to shrinking gross sales and frequent losses. After Nissan introduced the closure of its CIVAC plant in Mexico final July, the Aguascalientes JV plant appeared to be subsequent on the record. Mercedes determined to cease making the GLB there. Infiniti QX50 and QX55 gross sales had declined, with no 2026 mannequin introduced.

Nissan’s CIVAC plant that can be within the means of closing had produced the Nissan Versa, which additionally seems to be dropped. This was the least costly automobile accessible within the US. Its discontinuation raises the value flooring and reduces the competitors for small reasonably priced vehicles.

General, it is rather troublesome to get the dimensions wanted to promote an reasonably priced subcompact if remoted from different markets. Particularly within the US, the place gross sales are comparatively low. Margins are usually low, and enormous volumes are wanted to make manufacturing viable. Isolation from international markets the place these autos are extra common basically closes off entry to those autos.

Chinese language Automakers Step As much as Fill the Hole

From this backdrop, Reuters reported that BYD and Geely had risen to the highest of an inventory of corporations bidding to take over the plant. Different opponents had included GWM, Chery, and VinFast.

BYD or Geely might assist fill the hole out there with reasonably priced subcompact vehicles. Whereas Geely nonetheless makes non-plug ICE autos, BYD solely makes autos with a plug. There’s a good probability that the plant will make autos that fill a niche within the reasonably priced finish of the spectrum and that these autos will probably be EVs.

These autos will doubtless enchantment to folks in LATAM. However they could additionally enchantment to folks in Canada. Canada’s favorable commerce relations with Mexico might result in additional EVs being imported, past these now allowed to be imported from China and people deliberate for native meeting.

Might we probably see them enter the US? Some indicators are more and more hopeful. The Supreme Courtroom needs to be releasing a ruling quickly on whether or not or not the president has the authority to challenge tariffs with out congressional approval. A number of lawsuits are ready on that ruling, together with from BYD, who needed to pay important tariffs on imported elements for its US operations.

As well as, the US Home has handed a bipartisan decision to finish Trump’s tariffs on Canada, led by my native consultant Gregory Meeks. This opens the door for related resolutions towards different tariffs and exposes a fissure between Congress and the president. As well as, whereas the president performing on commerce with out the approval of Congress is questionable, performing in outright opposition to Congress is undeniably unconstitutional.

Nonetheless, it is probably not sufficient. Protectionists are making up excuses and can merely name something that they don’t like a safety menace. We might not see these vehicles enter the US anytime quickly. However they’re probably excellent news for our neighbors.