Bulletin 398 - Friday, December 5, 2008

Guadalajara,- Jabil, a firm in the electronic industry, which invested close to US$120 million in its second plant, inaugurated the complex which will generate 3 thousand 500 jobs. This Company exported 100% of its production in 2007, equal to 2% of total exports made by Mexico, amounting to almost US$4.5 billion. The Ministry of the Economy, Gerardo Ruiz Mateos, said that firms that sell abroad will receive support at times of crisis. Also, Ernesto Sanchez Proal, Jabil's Senior Business Director in Mexico, informed that this Company makes an inclusion job by employing more than 100 disabled people. Jabil has five plants in Mexico, two of which are in Reynosa, one in Chihuahua and two in Guadalajara Metropolitan Area.

Source: El Norte

San Luis Potosi- At least for General Motors Plant in San Luis Potosi things look better than for the rest of the Company. This Plant will increase production in the next few years, by incorporating new models, which will be defined next week, Gustavo Cespedes, the Plant's General Director, informed. While participating in Mexico's Auto Industry Conference, Mr. Cespedes said that General Motors is trying to globally optimize production and Mexico is in a favorable position, due to logistics advantages and transportation costs. "The plant is manufacturing 30 vehicles per hour, working only one eight-hour shift". The Company currently makes purchases for US$10 billion in Mexico, but the goal is reaching US$13 billion in 2013, a 30% growth. "We are working to develop a suppliers' base that provide for global competition", he pointed-out. General Motors employs more than 12 thousand people in Mexico and generates around 120 thousand indirect jobs. Also VW-- In the Conference, Fausto Lopez, International Trade Agreements for Volkswagen de Mexico informed that VW will start operating a new plant in Puebla, named Best Fabrique, which will allow for an increase in production in Mexico from one thousand 500 to 2 thousand 100 vehicles per day.

Source: Reforma

ACAPULCO, Gro.- Volkswagen de Mexico is considering installing a new engines and transmissions plant in Mexico, Thomas Kraig, Vice-president for Government Affairs, acknowledged in a press conference held last night during the presentation of Gol model, which will be sold in Mexico as of next year. Karig said that the plant is feasible because Volkswagen de Mexico will continue investing in 2009 as they had forecasted, and will try to have a share of the market equal to this year's and, as Jorge Rodriguez, Marketing Director, had anticipated, rank second in sales, outdoing General Motors. This is not an advertisement. Here in Acapulco they gathered 80 journalists, which no brand has done in recent dates. They are fully aware that there will be much competition in the market, above normal, in 2009, in spite of the crisis,which has become a recession now. For the time being, there is Gol model, with the same engine as Lupo, but with new technological features, that make it a better car than Pointer, which is leaving the market.

Source: Al Volante

According to a press release disclosed by Chrysler LLC in Brazil, they will soon start selling the Mexican platform of Nissan Tiida as Dodge Trazo in Brazil. Production will start next February in Aguascalientes Plant, as per an agreement between Nissan Motor Company and Cerberus Capital Management. This operation will benefit Nissan Mexicana's production, a company which, just like the rest of the industry here, ships a large portion of its assemblies (almost 70%) for export to the United States, a country which faces the worst of its economic and automotive crises. The decrease in production for the Japanese company will be partly compensated by these shipments to Brazil and the current demand they have for Tiida in Europe, to where it is also shipped from Mexico. Chrysler de Mexico has not informed either if the Japanese cars will be shipped to Brazil via Chrysler de Mexico and their factory located in Toluca, close to Mexico City, or if shipments will be made directly by sea through the Pacific Ocean to a Brazilian port.

Source: Al volante

In a ceremony with the presence of stockholders, operators, local and national officers from Mazda Mexico, in addition to municipal officers, Chihuahua City Mayor Carlos Borruel inaugurated the new premises of Mazda Automotriz de Mexico. City Mayor Carlos Borruel congratulated the whole Mazda Mexico family for this great effort in establishing the dealing agency: "It is a real pleasure to find businessmen that put their money on Mexico and on Chihuahua; in this Administration we share the same vision for quality and service. Rest assured that the Municipal Government will continue generating the conditions required for more investment in Chihuahua City". He added that next year investment in public and social works will be over MEP$1 billion, to continue consolidating Chihuahua as leader in Mexico in competitiveness, in addition to confirming its first place in transparency". "Mazda has been growing fast in Mexico and increasing its acceptance among Mexicans. Each day we have the commitment to be the best dealer in Mexico, and we will now do it in Chihuahua. The decision to establish Mazda here in Chihuahua was because we found what we needed: quality of life, urban and social infrastructure, but most of all hard working people committed to Mexico", Mazda's representative said.

Source: CDN Mexico

Morelia, - To promote and offer Michoacan's advantages as a site for investment, Governor Leonel .Godoy Rangel met with members of American Chambers' Governing Board. Governor Godoy informed that members of American Chambers will continue investing in the State and an agenda has been decided to discuss the actions to be taken. "American Chambers has several members already established in Michoacan, such as Kansas City Southern and Arcelor Mittal, but what we want as government is to have more investment", he pointed-out. Neil Goins, Representative in Mexico for American Chambers, which members account for 80% of foreign investment in Mexico, acknowledged the potential of investing at the State of Michoacan, especially in agriculture, mining, steel and iron and tourism. "We have agreed with Governor Leonel Gody Rangel on establishing communication and cooperation mechanisms, to inform our members about the advantages of investing in Michoacan, as well as the opportunities to establish or expanding their businesses", Mr. Goins pointed-out.

Source: El Financiero