Bulletin 476 - Friday, July 2, 2010

Chihuahua, Mexico,- Maquiladoras Association, Asociacion de Maquiladoras Asociacion Civil, announced that this year 7 new investments will arrive to Ciudad Juarez, with close to 5 thousand jobs, as a reaction to the rebound in the US economy. Soledad Maynez Bibriescas, AMAC's Chairwoman, said that the reactivation in the maquilador sector has expanded to all industrial branches, from automotive to textile. She said that the economic rebound experienced by the United States in the last few months has been reflected here, with the creation of more than 14 thousand jobs in Ciudad Juarez in the first half of the year, which is very close to the 15 thousand jobs forecasted by the industry early this year. She added that the seven companies mentioned above will arrive to Ciudad Juarez in what is left of the year. She also said that some of the new investments are already making arrangements for buildings construction, something that did not happen since the crisis started.

Source: El Diario

Mexico City,- Nissan Mexicana is competing with similar assemblers in Thailand, Korea, China and India for the production of two new versions of March model, Jose Muñoz, Nissan President in Mexico informed. Mr. Muñoz said that the Mexican assembler requires a network of local suppliers of steel, plastics and precious metals to win this new project that would represent manufacturing 240 thousand units per year. Aguascalientes Plant will start manufacturing March model in the second quarter of 2011, but the company wants to bring to Mexico the production of two new versions. Nissan explained that even if there are Mexican suppliers of steel, plastic and precious metals, raw materials are imported from the USA, for its proximity to Mexico; however, what the assembler needs is importing supplies from low-cost countries to cut down manufacturing costs.

Source: El Norte

Seoul, Korea,- Samsung, the electronics giant, is confident that, in spite of the economic crisis in the Mexican market, it will continue eager for new technology. "If the range of options offered to consumers is broadened by introducing a larger variety of products in terms of price and design - as well as more user-friendly applications - the market will expand" Park Myung Dong, Marketing Vice-president for Latin America, assured. Only last April this Korean company introduced 3D high definition LED televisions, while last year launched netbooks and two-screen digital cameras in the Mexican market. "We will focus our marketing campaign on giving consumers the opportunity to experience new products and services", Mr. Myung Dong said. Consolidated in the color multifunction sector, Samsung is aiming now to another market they consider has a great potential in Mexico: smartphones. Samsung is already leader in the USA in cell phones sales and wants to be so south of Rio Grande as well.

Source: El Universal

Brussels,- The European Commission approved the purchase by Foxconn, the Taiwanese manufacturer of electronic products, of Sony's TV business in Mexico and Slovakia after considering the deal raised no competition concerns in the European Economic Area. After analyzing the deal, the Commission reached the conclusion that "horizontal overlaps between Foxconn and the Slovak and Mexican electronic assembly operations are limited", a press release informed. Foxconn provides assembly services to manufacturers of electronic products, such as computers, cell phones and TV sets, while Sony Divisions purchased by Foxconn in Mexico and Slovakia currently produce LCD TV sets.

Source: El Financiero

Mexico City,- Giant Motors Latin America a La Sinca Inbursa company, assembler of FAW trucks and buses, has consolidated its presence in Mexico in the first half of the year by offering trucks with unique characteristics, such as high fuel efficiency and great profitability, which has provided for a large market penetration in companies where logistics is essential to their operation. GF6000 Bus has a prominent presence in the market, because it is a highly fuel and cost efficient vehicle which meets comfort, safety and efficiency requirements making of this bus an excellent choice for urban transportation. This is why institutions as important as the University of Mexico and the University of the State of Hidalgo purchased their first fleets, 8 and 4 units respectively, in the first quarter of this year. Due to good results obtained with this vehicle, alliances with universities in other states are being considered in a global plan.

Source: Portal Automotriz

Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua,- Jaime Lopez Buitron, Minister of Labor and Welfare, informed that 3 thousand 300 people have been employed in maquiladora industry, while 2 thousand 900 more have been temporarily recruited for 25 different projects in "Todos Somos Juarez" (We Are All Juarez) Program. He said that the MXP$100 million allocated by the Federal Government to this program are being spent mainly in recovering jobs, through several programs with such purpose. He further said that resources have been properly and promptly used and they have been intensively applied in the first 100 days. He pointed-out that around 75 projects, from a 200 projects goal, have already been started. He finally said that works being jointly made by federal, state and local authorities will continue.

Source: Juarezpress

Mexico City,- President Felipe Calderon announced the elimination of a tax paid in Mexico for owing a vehicle, known as "tenencia". He said that the first step is eliminating such tax paid for new cars worth up to MXP$250 thousand, to gradually eliminate the tax for good in a process that will be completed by December 31, 2011. The cost of this measure will be absorbed by the Federal Government with public resources. Eliminating this tax is one of three actions included in a package to support automotive industry for a rebound, after sales dropped 26% in 2009. The second measure to provide impulse to the industry includes companies, which will be allowed to deduct payment of this same tax "tenencia" paid on vehicles with a cost equal or under MXP$250 thousand. The last item is an aid program "to help more families have a brand new car", to which purpose MXP$2.5 billion have been budgeted, to be spent within the next six months.

Source: El Financiero