CLAS: Expects to establish Sonora as a regional leader

As Sonora’s automotive industry undergoes a period of consolidation, the Sonora Automotive Cluster (CLAS) has emerged—an initiative aimed at strengthening regional competitiveness, promoting local supply chains, and positioning the state within global supply chains.

For Margarita Bejarano, the organization’s executive director, Sonora’s automotive sector is built on an ecosystem that has demonstrated resilience and the ability to evolve over the industry’s 40-year history in the state.

Automotive development in Sonora is closely linked to the operation of the Ford Motor Company plant in Hermosillo, considered one of the automaker’s most efficient facilities worldwide.

The organization began operations in 2024 with 12 member companies, and in just over a year, it has doubled its membership to 24 associates. Its creation was driven by companies in the sector—including Ford—and supported by collaboration between industry, government, and academia.

“The state and municipal governments, along with universities, have played an active role in forming the cluster. This reflects the collaborative model that has proven key to strengthening industrial sectors,” noted Bejarano.