Ford Commemorates Anniversary of its Plants in Mexico
As part of its centennial celebrations in the country, Ford Mexico commemorated the anniversaries of its production plants, a network of operations that has evolved from an assembly platform to a pillar of innovation for the global automotive industry.
“The history of Ford cannot be told without the history of its plants. They are a testament to our evolution and a breeding ground for talent in Mexico. Today we commemorate that legacy with the certainty that we are building the next century of innovation from here,” said Lucien Pinto, President and CEO of Ford Mexico.
Coincidentally, three of the blue oval brand's manufacturing facilities in the country officially began operations in November, the first of which was Cuautitlán, also known as CSAP (Cuautitlán Stamping and Assembly Plant) in 1964.
That plant is a symbol of reinvention. Following a historic investment, it became the first Ford facility in the world to mass-produce a 100% electric vehicle, the Mustang Mach-E.
Today, with more than 60 years of history, this center exports technology and manufacturing 4.0 to the most demanding markets globally.
Hermosillo (HSAP), which began operations in 1986 and has positioned itself as a benchmark for excellence since its inauguration.
It was a pioneer in the production of hybrid vehicles in Mexico and the first outside the United States to manufacture models of the Lincoln luxury brand.
It currently produces the Ford Bronco Sport and Maverick, with an assembly quality that has earned it recognition as the “Best Assembly Plant in North America.”
The Chihuahua Engine Plant (CHEP), which officially started operations in 1983, has been the heart that powers millions of Ford vehicles around the world for more than four decades.
Its production of state-of-the-art engines is a pillar of the export strategy and a testament to Mexico's ability to produce highly complex technology.
The newest plant in the ecosystem, the Irapuato Electric Powertrain Center (IEPC), opened in 2017.
It was originally conceived as a transmission plant, but thanks to the agility of Ford Mexico's operations in adapting to new technologies, it is now responsible for manufacturing the electric motor for the Ford Mustang Mach-E, consolidating its position as a vital link in the electrification strategy since then.
In addition to manufacturing operations, since October 2022, the brand has been operating the Global Technology and Business Center (GTBC), which, in addition to being Ford's headquarters in Mexico, is home to Ford's largest engineering center in Latin America, where Mexican talent develops patents, software, and engineering solutions for global projects.
And, although it is not a plant, it is the culmination of this century of evolution, a place where the country no longer just manufactures, but creates the technology of tomorrow.
“The experience accumulated on each anniversary gives us the ability to lead today. The discipline of Hermosillo, the audacity of Cuautitlán, and the precision of Chihuahua are the result of decades of learning,” said Ricardo Anaya, director of Manufacturing for Ford Mexico.
“We celebrate these milestones not as a memory, but as the platform from which we are launching the next generation of vehicles for the world.”
