GTBC, Ford’s Patent ‘Factory’ in Mexico

When people talk about the automotive industry in Mexico, the traditional focus is usually on robotic arms and assembly lines, but at least within Ford de México’s offices, the story is quite different.

Over the course of 101 years in the country, Ford Mexico has positioned itself as a giant of innovation thanks to the talent at the Global Technology and Business Center (GTBC), one of the company’s three largest engineering centers worldwide and the second-largest generator of ideas and patents for Ford globally, trailing only the parent company in the United States.

This means that much of the technology, comfort, and design enjoyed by drivers around the world in vehicles from the Blue Oval company originated from a Mexican idea.

After all, innovation isn’t always about microchips or complex algorithms. Sometimes, genius lies in understanding the user and creating value for them.

A clear example is the Ford Bronco Sport. If you’ve ever used the bottle opener built into the trunk lid, you’re using an idea developed and patented by Mexican engineers who understood that, when you reach the top of the mountain, the first thing you want to do is celebrate.

This “Innovation with Purpose” approach is the company’s hallmark. It’s about solving real problems. Other examples of Mexican talent now hitting the roads worldwide include:

The “Frunk” of the Mustang Mach-E—that is, the front trunk of this electric vehicle—whose design includes a drainage system to use it as a cooler, is a Mexican development.

The smart storage in the Ford Maverick, whose under-seat storage solutions were devised by local talent, designed to make the most of every inch of the vehicle.

Last year, Mexican creativity hit the gas pedal. The Ford Mexico team filed 1,093 Invention Disclosures. From this hotbed of creativity, 206 projects met the rigorous global standards to begin the formal patent application process with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

“At Ford Mexico, we have demonstrated that we are not only skilled hands in manufacturing but also brilliant minds in engineering,” said Juan Santillán, Director of Product Development at Ford Mexico.

The executive explained that Ford Mexico engineers have global responsibility, as what is created here impacts vehicles sold in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. “We are a true hub of high-quality innovation,” he reiterated.

According to the executive, what makes Ford’s ecosystem in Mexico unique is that creativity is a team effort, as the patent program is open to any employee, from Marketing to Human Resources.

The philosophy is clear: the next big idea could come from someone who identified a need while driving home, not necessarily from a laboratory.

With more than 2,500 engineers at the GTBC and a track record of over 500 patents granted in the last five years, Ford de México reaffirms its commitment to transforming the “Made in Mexico” label into a synonym for cutting-edge technology, quality, and creativity that moves the world.