However, production of electric vehicles in Mexico was expected to increase to 142,000 cars this year from 78,000 in 2022, estimated the Mexican group the National Auto Parts Industry (INA), before Tesla announced its new plant.
AMIA’s top executive, José Zozaya, told Reuters there are still “very few incentives” to boost electric vehicle sales in the country’s public policies. “This change in technology is going to take place in the world with Mexico or without Mexico.”
“I have my reservations that we can reach that number,” said Nazareth Black, executive director of electric vehicle maker Zacua, speaking of the government’s goals. “It would be very necessary to really develop a government incentive plan so that you can really accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles.”
range anxiety
Elsewhere in Latin America, countries from Costa Rica to Chile have included electric vehicle targets to cut emissions toward their commitments to the 2015 Paris climate accords. Mexico has so far shyed away from such pledges.
The country would need more charging stations to make electric vehicles practical. Mexico has some 1,100 charging points nationwide, the majority in the capital and other major cities, according to AMIA. New York state alone has 9,000, according to the governor.
Pedro Corral, director of operations for the Evergo EV charging station platform, drives his all-electric BMW i3 through Mexico City. But when he leaves the capital, he usually switches to a fuel-powered Toyota to avoid running out of charge.
Evergo aims to install 4,000 chargers for public use in the next four years in the country, betting on the growing appetite for electric vehicles.
Still, Corral said current numbers suggest Mexico’s targets are unrealistic and raised doubts that curiosity about Tesla’s new factory is translating into a boost in sales.
Tesla’s cheapest model, which costs about $55,000, plus the cost of a charger, means most Mexicans can’t afford it. Cheaper models like the Nissan Leaf cost more than $50,000 and even Zacua’s two-seaters are around 600,000 pesos ($31,767).
The Mexican worker earns an average of 366 dollars a month, according to official data, and the legal minimum wage guarantees a payment of around 11 dollars a day.
“There are great benefits to owning an electric car,” Corral said. “(But) in addition to being expensive, a lot of people are stuck on this part of range anxiety.”
By Aida Peláez-Fernández/REUTERS