China’s BAIC may produce electric cars in Mexico

Chinese automaker, BAIC Motor Corporation, is now selling some of its models in Mexico, leading to reports suggesting the firms may be considering a production plant in the country. The plant would produce electric as well as traditional vehicles as part of BAIC's plan to sell at least 5000 vehicles in Mexico annually by 2018.

The Chinese firm BAIC Motor Corporation has begun selling some of its models in the Mexican market, and is considering construction of a position plant in the country, according to recent reports.

The theoretical plant would, in addition to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, also produce electric vehicles (EVs), going by a recent interview that the BAIC Vice President Wei Huacheng gave.

The prominent Chinese firm is now aiming for at least 5,000 vehicle sales a year in Mexico by the year 2018. No details have been revealed yet about the timeline for a possible production plant, so it remains unclear how future sales could be impacted by a possible plant.

Auto News provides more:

BAIC, the unit of Beijing Automotive Group Company, joins a host of international automakers who have set up operations in Mexico to access auto markets in the US and Latin America. It sold its first car in Mexico on Thursday.

“Mexico … is a very important part (of our) long-term vision,” Wei said through a translator.

The Chinese company said it would initially sell a sedan and smaller-size SUV at six dealerships in Mexico, with three additional models planned to hit the market by the end of the year. It has tied up with local retailer Grupo Picacho. BAIC is the only Chinese automaker in the Mexican market after Chinese state-owned carmaker FAW left in 2009.

Interesting news. It appears that China may very well beat better-established auto-manufacturing countries to the release of a good-selling EV in the Mexican market.

(Tip of the hat to “RobStark” on the Tesla Motors Club forum for sharing the news.)