BYD Drops Mexico Plant
This article first appeared in the July 3, 2025 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier leftist daily newspaper.
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD no longer plans to build a plant in Mexico due to geopolitical and trade tensions, according to statements by the company’s executive vice president, Stella Li, Bloomberg reported.
Interviewed in the Brazilian state of Bahia, where BYD opened its first factory outside of Asia, Li noted that the company remains interested in expanding on the continent but has no timeline for making a new investment.
“Geopolitical issues have a major impact on the automotive industry,” he said. “Now everyone is rethinking their strategy in other countries. We want to wait for more clarity before making a decision.” On Wednesday, BYD officially unveiled its first Dolphin Mini produced at its new factory in Camaçari, Bahia.
BYD has invested 5.5 billion Brazilian reals in the complex, which covers 4.6 million square meters, equivalent to the size of 645 soccer fields. Once all construction phases are completed, the project is expected to generate up to 20,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Meanwhile, Tesla’s global sales fell 13.5 percent in the second quarter compared to the same period in 2024, amid growing competition and the end of its owner Elon Musk’s partnership with US President Donald Trump.
-
Sheinbaum Demands Proof from the US on Alleged Campaign Financing with Fuel Tax Fraud Money
Mexico was never told of the accusation, Sheinbaum says, after the US Treasury sanctioned 11 people and firms tied to the CJNG without sharing proof.
-
The United States Did Not Withdraw from the USMCA; They Reported an Intention Not to Renew Under Current Terms: Ebrard
Washington refused to extend the pact past 2036, triggering yearly reviews, but Ebrard says trade stays unchanged for a decade; talks resume July 20.
-
Sports as Diplomacy – Soberanía 113
Mexico shines at the World Cup and welcomes Iran, the right recycles itself with Somos México and a rebooted PAN, and the New York Times peddles an anonymous-source smear against Morena.
