In February 2024, the rumor that Byd was interested in building a factory in Mexico began to gain strength. And, contrary to what usually happens in other cases, for last year there was already talk of possible locations and even the jobs that were going to be created in a specific installation.
None of that will happen.
Canceled. At least in the short term. Because according to Stella Li, BYD vice president, they are “waiting for greater security before making a decision”, in words collected by Bloomberg. And, according to LI, all brands “are rethinking their strategy” because geopolitical motifs that have “a great impact on the automobile industry.”
The answer comes just when the company seeks its expansion in America. To do this, a factory is raising in Brazil (in which they were accused of hard treatment to their workers) but wanted to take Mexico as a basis for an expansion in North America.
USA. The biggest problem for this expansion seems to be the Government of Donald Trump. The US government is using tariffs as a pressure measure against other countries, which directly impacts the automobile industry.
In order for these tariffs not to impact vehicles, Byd would have to ensure that the components used do not pass through the neighboring country since would make the final product. Without the possibility of selling cars in the United States, playing with the price is key to competing with maximum guarantees in Mexico.
And not just the United States. Although the cancellation, at least temporary, of the Mexican factory of byd seems to focus on the US administration, Financial Times He assured a few months ago that China also did not see with good eyes The implementation of the company to the south of the country since they believed that it could be a risk of industrial espionage.
Everything indicates that, once confirmed that Byd could not sell their Chinese cars in the United States as a result of the New standard approved by the then executive of Joe Bidenfrom the Asian country they wanted to throw the brake. In June 2024 There was already talk that the country that Donald Trump now runs was Byd’s true goal on his arrival in Mexico.
Advanced? What is not entirely clear is to what extent the company’s plans were advanced. A little later, Already in August last yearIt seemed that we had three candidates to host the arrival of the Byd factory. Then it was said that all locations were in the center of the country but Reuters It didn’t give more data.
In January, the plant size began to speculate. It was said that the factory would use 10,000 people And that would bend the one that Tesla had planned to build in Nuevo León and that, finally, Nor has it finished getting ahead. Months later, Trump would hit the manufacturers hard that produce totally or partially in Mexico The cars sold in the United States.
However, Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexican president, already pointed in March that “they have a proposed investment, but it was never something formal”, in relation to the possible locations that could be of the plant. Now, it does not seem to continue advancing in the short term.
Photo | Byd and Roger CE
In Xataka | We tried the eye of God with which byd wants to break the market: autonomous driving for a 9,000 euros car
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings