Automotive investment in Aguascalientes continued to show resilience despite market volatility and a 38.6% decline in foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to the Mexican automotive sector. In H1 2025, the state attracted five automotive projects that committed more than USD 107 million in new capital and 685 jobs. Although other states in Mexico’s Bajío region registered higher volumes of announced projects, Aguascalientes remains one of the most competitive subnational destinations for automotive investment in Mexico.
This is due to its specialization in high-end manufacturing, deep industrial infrastructure, and the presence of globally competitive European and Asian firms.
Premium Automotive, High-Value Manufacturing Drive Investment
The five automotive projects announced in the first half of 2025 align with the state’s economic development strategy that prioritizes high-value added products. These products include premium automotive interiors, molded parts and components, structural components, and electromobility.
NBHX Trim (China)
NBHX Trim, a Chinese company specializing in the manufacturing of automotive interiors for premium and electric vehicles, made a USD 24.13 million investment in H1 2025. The Chinese company expanded its Aguascalientes plant to produce dashboards, door panels, and metal body parts for premium models.
Job creation and expansion area were not disclosed. However, the introduction of new production lines focused on value-added manufacturing of interior components reinforces Aguascalientes’ position as a leading manufacturer of precision, automation, and quality.
PROMA Group (Italy)
The Italian company PROMA Group, specialized in car seat frames and structural components, committed USD 32.1 million for the construction of a new plant in Aguascalientes. This project also entails the creation of 225 new jobs in the state.
This new automotive investment in Aguascalientes reflects the state’s capacity to attract more European companies to establish their operations in the state to produce high-quality and sophisticated components. In addition, by targeting the production of seat frames and structural components, PROMA has access to more premium automotive markets. Therefore, automotive investment in Aguascalientes is expanding its footprint beyond component supply to include other operations upstream and further along the supply chain.
Tokai Kogyo (Japan)
Tokai Kogyo, a Japanese company, announced a USD 5.35 million reinvestment into its Aguascalientes plant, which manufactures molded rubber and plastic parts for various automotive applications.
The company did not provide further details on job creation and area expansion. However, the reinvestment is a sign of confidence and long-term commitment in the state.
Advanced Composites (Japan)
Advanced Composites, a Japanese company specializing in high-performance plastic compounds, announced a USD 13.38 million expansion to its manufacturing plant in San Francisco de los Romo.
The company is a producer of TPO (thermoplastic olefin), polypropylene, and other plastics with high performance and unique technical characteristics. The compounds are used to manufacture a range of vehicle parts from bumpers to interior panels. As plastic components contribute to weight reduction and emissions in vehicles, Advanced Composites’ presence in Aguascalientes also supports the state’s growth in electromobility.
ITA Breaks Ground on Semiconductors & Electromobility Lab
The National Laboratory of Semiconductors and Electromobility, owned by the Aguascalientes Institute of Technology (ITA), broke ground on the new USD 1.77 million semiconductor laboratory in H1 2025. When completed, it will cover an area of 4,600 square meters and focus on the development of leading-edge electromobility and semiconductor technologies.
Although the state did not disclose how many jobs will be created and how long the project will take to become operational, the laboratory’s introduction as a high-tech R&D hub bodes well for long-term returns. By working to strengthen the state’s technology talent pool and developing more local suppliers, this new facility will accelerate innovation and the local talent pool for electromobility solutions and cutting-edge manufacturing in semiconductors.
Electromobility: Next Big Opportunity for Mexico’s EV Hub?
Although the launch of the semiconductor lab is a promising development, only one out of the five projects announced in the first semester of 2025 is directly related to electromobility technologies and processes.
This reveals the huge potential that the sector represents and one of the few opportunities where Aguascalientes can differentiate itself as the automotive hub of Mexico.
The state has one of the most developed ecosystems of automotive component suppliers in the country and access to specialized technical institutions that make it the ideal destination for investment in EV batteries, charging systems, software development, and systems integration. The state could benefit from more active promotion and incentives to capture global R&D centers and engineering hubs focused on electromobility.
To move into higher-value and technology-intensive projects, the state will need to work on specialized promotion campaigns that appeal to both software and battery R&D.
Industrial Infrastructure: Waiting for the Next Wave of Investment
Aguascalientes’ secret has always been its ability to receive complex manufacturing operations. With five projects in H1 2025, automotive investment in Aguascalientes is already showing interest in advancing along the value chain into more technology-intensive operations. For example, in electromobility, the state can benefit from promoting the advantages it has over other destinations: specialized suppliers, high-quality and competitive talent, and a long track record of stable operations.
It also requires a constant investment in industrial infrastructure that can support the needs of new-generation global firms. The emergence of smart industrial parks can help fill the gap that requires not only space but also services, digital connectivity, clean energy, and ESG compliance.
Closing Thoughts: Quality, Talent, Precision
In a semester characterized by international reticence and a general downturn in FDI figures nationwide, Aguascalientes demonstrated that it can remain in demand and strategically oriented. By attracting over USD 107 million in investments, creating 685 new jobs, and deepening its footprint in advanced materials and electromobility, the state provides a good example of how more specialized regions can be more competitive in a rapidly changing world market.
The question now is how to move up the value chain and deepen the technological ecosystem. By achieving this, automotive investment in Aguascalientes can go beyond components and parts to become a more important regional center for innovation, testing, and design in new-generation mobility.
If it continues to attract high-tech companies and make the necessary investments in talent and infrastructure, the state will likely see its role and relevance in Mexico’s automotive ecosystem increase.