Beijing fears that Mexico's proximity to the United States could facilitate the transfer of key technology developed by BYD, Tesla's main competitor, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, March 19.
The administrative hold by Chinese authorities comes despite BYD's announcement of plans to establish its plant in Mexico in 2023, along with similar projects in Brazil, Hungary, and Indonesia.
The Chinese company had stated that the Mexican plant would generate 10,000 jobs and have an annual production capacity of 150,000 vehicles.
However, automotive companies from the Asian giant require authorization from China's Ministry of Commerce to manufacture abroad, and this approval has not yet been granted in BYD's case.
Authorities fear that Mexico will gain unrestricted access to BYD's technology and know-how, even allowing the United States to benefit from them.
“The Commerce Ministry's main concern is Mexico's proximity to the United States,” the British outlet reported, citing two sources.
Geopolitics and Mexico's stance on China
In addition to the fear of technological leaks, other geopolitical factors contribute to the pause in government approval.
One is that Mexico seeks to maintain good relations with Donald Trump, who in turn announced tariffs on cross-border trade, threatening exports and jobs.
Trump did the same with Beijing, imposing higher taxes on imports from China. In response, China imposed tariffs on approximately $22 billion worth of US goods, primarily targeting the agricultural sector.
Trump's team accuses Mexico of being a “back door” for Chinese products to enter the United States without paying tariffs, taking advantage of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
The Mexican government denies these accusations, but has imposed new tariffs on Chinese textiles and initiated anti-dumping investigations against steel and aluminum products originating in China.
The FT says that the Mexican government would obviously like to receive more investment from China, but its trade relationship with the United States is much more important.
What BYD Will Do
When asked if US tariffs and Mexico's tougher stance toward China had halted the company's plans, Stella Li, BYD's executive vice president, said that "no decision has yet been made on the Mexico plant."
"There is different news every day, so we just have to do our job," she said. "More study is needed to see how we can satisfy and improve to offer the best result for everyone." In February 2024, Li had said they would choose the factory location before the end of 2024.
BYD reported sales of more than 40,000 vehicles in Mexico last year, and the brand expressed its desire to double sales volume and open 30 new dealerships in the country by 2025
La aprobación de la planta de BYD en México se demora mientras la marca registra ventas récord en el país y tiene planes de crecimiento.
www.merca20.com
The 40,000 BYD units sold in 2024 would place the brand as the thirteenth best-selling in the country, according to INEGI figures, very close to Suzuki and Honda (which sold 43,661 and 42,336 units, respectively).
Para este año, la automotriz china tiene el objetivo de abrir 30 distribuidoras más en México.
www.eleconomista.com.mx
With a 4% market share, BYD has not only captured the attention of Mexican consumers but has also changed the game in the automotive industry.
En 2024, la marca china BYD ha logrado un hito impresionante en el mercado automotriz mexicano, posicionándose en el top
america-retail.com