Auto parts industry gains presence in Yucatán
Outside of the country's main industrial hubs, the auto parts industry is taking root in the state of Yucatán; without being among the largest producers, this entity has begun to stand out among the regions with growth in the sector.
The National Auto Parts Industry (INA) reports that in 2024 Yucatan presented an annual growth of 8.1% in the production of automotive parts, placing it as the state with the highest variation; followed by Zacatecas (6.6%), Nuevo Leon (6.2%), Guanajuato (6.1%) and San Luis Potosi (5.8%).
Although Yucatán does not have an automotive vocation -unlike northern or Bajío states-, this area is attracting investments from companies seeking to complement their manufacturing processes, even to export to Central American countries, explained INA's general director, Gabriel Padilla Maya.
“We have found that the auto parts industry has the potential to develop throughout the country and, exactly in Yucatan, from being a state that has no vocation for the automotive sector, auto parts companies have arrived to complement these companies' manufacturing processes and in their orientation to complement part of the assembly processes that are made in the center and Bajio of the country, but especially in exports to Central America,” he said.
Yucatan registered in 2024 its highest annual value in exports of transportation equipment -a sector that includes the automotive and aerospace industries, among others-, reflecting an annual increase of 81.9%, according to the records of the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi).
In terms of Foreign Direct Investment, the manufacturing of transportation equipment has accumulated US$99.8 million in Yucatan, from 2006 to 2024; the majority (US$85.4 million) corresponds to the aerospace sector and US$8.4 million in parts for automotive vehicles, according to the Ministry of Economy.
When talking about the conditions that could influence the growth of the sector in Yucatan, the INA executive commented that sometimes this trend is influenced by the development of infrastructure, by the capacity of the energy supply and by the formation of human capital.
“We are struck by the fact that these companies have been located within the Progreso 1 and Progreso 2 developments in Yucatan; but this is the situation that occurs when infrastructure decisions are made in the states, including the part of covering energy requirements and, above all, talent,” he said.
On the last point, the expert highlighted the link between industry and universities; almost 20 years ago, he said, the availability of talent and the adaptation of curricula was one of the main requirements of plants and assemblers, regardless of incentives.
“Today we have a great challenge in those states that are complementing the requirements of infrastructure and talent, we will see an expansion of the auto parts sector in non-traditional states, such as Yucatan, there is a bet and a great opportunity in the development of the entire center-south of the country”.
