GlobalAutoIndustry.com’s Ron Hesse sat down with Armando Cortés, CEO of the Mexico-based National Auto Parts Industry Association (INA, which represents the interests of more than 900 companies in Mexico), for a seven-minute interview discussing the auto parts manufacturing industry in Mexico.
Cortés was appointed CEO of INA in June 2023 and is considered an expert in the automotive and auto parts industry. He has more than 15 years of experience working with transnational companies in the public and private sectors. Previously, he was executive director for the automotive and auto parts industry at ProMexico, where he spearheaded strategies to attract investment to Mexico and was instrumental in establishing projects valued at over $5 billion. He also worked at Chrysler de México, where he served as manager of strategic projects.
You can listen to the interview here.
In the interview, Cortés discusses:
- The history of the Mexico auto parts manufacturing industry, including scope and size;
- How foreign automotive suppliers affected the Mexico-based supply base over the years;
- How the industry is doing today, especially with the effects of new technologies (such as EVs), nearshoring, US-China trade war, etc.
- Areas in which the auto parts sector must improve on and where Cortés sees opportunities;
- How Cortés sees the industry growing in the next two to three years;
- Cortés’s final thoughts.
