Ford converts Mexico plant to EV drive production

Ford is investing 273 million dollars in its plant in Mexico to produce drives for its electric Mustang Mach-E. That includes building the electric motor and the car's propulsion system.

The plant in Irapuato in central Mexico in the state of Guanajuato has so far only been used for the production of drive units for petrol cars. As the Mustang Mach-E is also manufactured in Mexico, “this new stage allows us to create synergy between plants and drive development in the country,” said Ricardo Anaya, director of manufacturing at Ford of Mexico and Latin America.

The move is not a surprise. In February, Ford changed the plant’s name to “Irapuato Electric Powertrain Center (IEPC).” According to a press release by the local government, “the plant has undergone a process of renovation and adaptation for this new production, which represents the integration of cutting-edge technologies and equipment, always focused on more sustainable production processes, achieving the acceleration of the production plan over the course of a year.”

As mentioned above, the Mach-E is manufactured in Mexico, specifically in Cuautitlan, Mexico, just outside Mexico City. From there, it is exported to 40 countries in Europe, the Americas, and Australia. The US carmaker unveiled the 2024 Mach-E in April, which now offers up to 320 miles of range, according to EPA. Charging from 10 to 80 per cent takes 36 minutes.

The announcement from Mexico comes just weeks after the carmaker said it would cut spending on EV development and focus more on hybrids. The reason: Ford’s electric car division remains in the red, with sales dropping 26 per cent in Q2/2024. Turnover even dropped 37 per cent YoY.

guanajuato.gob.mx (in Spanish), yahoo.com