Ford has now operated in Mexico for 100 years, and as a part of the centennial celebrations on Monday, CEO Jim Farley introduced that the corporate will develop its International Know-how and Enterprise Middle (GTBC) in México state.
Farley was joined by state governors, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ron Johnson and different officers at a celebratory occasion in Mexico Metropolis. The corporate — based by Henry Ford in Detroit, Michigan, in 1903 — opened its first manufacturing unit in Mexico in Mexico Metropolis in 1925.
In response to the newspaper Milenio, Farley stated that the plan to develop the GTBC — situated inside the metropolitan space of Mexico Metropolis in Naucalpan, México state — is a part of Ford’s efforts to develop its capabilities in Mexico. He didn’t specify how a lot Ford would make investments to develop the middle, which opened in 2022.
Farley spoke in extraordinarily optimistic phrases about Ford’s presence in Mexico, the place the automaker has automobile meeting crops in Sonora and México state, and engine manufacturing crops in Chihuahua and Guanajuato.
“Our factories in Mexico have set the requirements for high quality and productiveness for Ford,” he stated.
“… We are going to proceed competing strongly right here in Mexico, making and promoting autos that prospects need to drive and which fulfill their wants,” Farley stated.
“To our sellers and staff: you’re the motive we are going to proceed investing in Mexico,” he stated.
Ford offered just below 21,000 vehicles in Mexico within the first 5 months of the 12 months, in response to nationwide statistics company INEGI. The corporate exported greater than 183,000 autos from Mexico in the identical interval, nearly 9 occasions the quantity it offered right here.
In September final 12 months, Ford introduced a US $273 million funding for its plant in Irapuato, Guanajuato, the place motors and transaxles for electrical autos are made.
The corporate makes electrical autos at its plant in Cuautitlán, México state, the place in 2022 it unveiled its first automotive made completely by girls.
‘A monumental milestone’
In a press launch, Ford México declared that it was celebrating “a monumental milestone” on Monday: 100 years because it turned the primary automotive assembler [in Mexico].”
“Because the nation’s first vehicle producer, Ford de México has performed a basic function within the improvement of the trade and has contributed considerably to the financial and social cloth of Mexico,” the corporate stated.
“Immediately, Ford de México is made up of greater than 14,000 staff and 113 Ford and Lincoln dealerships. Mexico is house to iconic autos such because the Mustang Mach-E, Ford Maverick, and Ford Bronco Sport,” it stated.
Along with making autos in Mexico, Ford stated it has performed a “key function” within the nation’s auto elements sector, “with services such because the plant in Tlalnepantla, [México state], serving to the logo ‘Hecho en México‘ achieve world recognition.”
“Hecho en México” eran las palabras inscritas en el inside de las cajas de “autopartes originales de Ford” que recuerdo de mi adolescencia, cuando trabajaba con mi padre en el negocio acquainted de autopartes. Hoy celebramos los 100 años de @FordMX en México: un siglo… pic.twitter.com/KD2fR8cLSK
— Embajador Ronald Johnson (@USAmbMex) June 24, 2025
Johnson, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, stated on the X social media web site on Monday that “‘Hecho en México’ had been phrases inscribed contained in the packing containers of ‘real Ford’ auto elements that I bear in mind from my teenage years working with my father in our household’s auto elements enterprise.”
“And in the present day we celebrated 100 years of @FordMX in Mexico!” he added.
“Constructing jobs and communities collectively. Thanks Ford! And pleased one centesimal Anniversary!”
The International Know-how and Enterprise Middle
In its press launch, Ford stated that its groups in Mexico “are deeply concerned” within the “design, improvement, testing, validation and manufacture” of the corporate’s autos.
“Mexico can also be a middle for world providers, offering expertise to Ford’s world group in vital areas corresponding to info know-how, product improvement, funds, advertising, gross sales and repair, purchases, human sources and Ford Credit score,” the corporate stated.
“A transparent instance of Mexico’s expertise is the International Know-how and Enterprise Middle (GTBC), established in 2022. As one among Ford’s three world facilities, the GTBC in Mexico is a powerhouse for product improvement, providers, and course of engineering,” Ford stated.
“… It homes the most important automotive engineering middle in Mexico and one of many largest in Latin America, using a crew of engineers who work throughout all the spectrum of automotive engineering,” the corporate stated.
Ford llegó a México hace 100 años. Hoy seguimos abriendo camino, a un gran país.#FordMexico100años pic.twitter.com/W3wEqA54E7
— Ford de México (@FordMX) June 23, 2025
Ford’s ‘Schooling in Motion’ program
Ford additionally introduced on Monday that it could develop its “Schooling in Motion” program in Mexico “by way of three completely different actions that can present extra alternatives for college kids.”
The corporate stated it can allocate an extra US $2 million to its scholarship initiative for “excellent college students,” by way of which it helps younger folks attending academic establishments from main college to college.
Ford additionally stated it could construct two new main colleges: one in Mexicali, Baja California, and one other close to the GTBC in México state. The corporate has funded the development of 212 main colleges in Mexico over the previous 59 years, however none since 2017, in response to the El Common newspaper.
Ford stated that its third education-related “motion” could be restoring and sustaining its present colleges.
“Investing in schooling is the promise of a greater future and in the present day it’s attainable thanks to each one that buys a Ford or Lincoln automobile,” Farley stated.
“Collectively we are going to proceed constructing a future by which schooling is accessible, by which each youngster has the chance to dream and obtain their objectives,” he stated.
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