Ricardo Anaya, Director of Manufacturing at Ford Mexico and Latin America, stated that this move will help Ford create synergy between plants and drive development within Mexico.

The Mach-E, an electric mass-produced vehicle manufactured in Mexico, is exported to approximately 40 countries across Europe, the Americas, and Australia. In April of this year, Ford unveiled the new 2024 Mach-E, which now offers a range of up to 320 miles (approximately 515 kilometers), with a charging time from 10% to 80% in 36 minutes.

In 2023, Ford sold 40,771 units of the Mustang Mach-E in the U.S., marking a 3.3% year-over-year increase. From January through July of this year, Mach-E sales in the U.S. have totaled 26,826 units, compared to 17,977 during the same period last year, indicating a 49.2% increase.

In February of this year, Ford renamed its Irapuato plant to the Irapuato Electric Powertrain Center. The plant, which opened in 2017 and employs 700 workers, is located in central Mexico in the state of Guanajuato, which is home to one of the country's largest automotive production clusters. The Mustang Mach-E is manufactured at Ford's plant in Cuautitlan, just outside Mexico City.

Ford's Model e business unit has continued to operate at a loss in the first two quarters of this year. In late August, considering the ongoing strategy and the growing market demand for hybrid vehicles, Ford adjusted its electrification strategy to reduce capital expenditure: the annual capital expenditure ratio for pure electric vehicles will be reduced from 40% to 30%. The originally planned all-electric three-row SUV will also be changed to adopt hybrid technology, with more hybrid technology models to be launched.

Ford Mexico began operations in 1925 as the first automobile company in the country and currently employs 14,600 people. In addition to the Irapuato Electric Drive factory currently being restructured, Ford also has stamping and assembly plants in Hermosillo and Cuautitlán, producing the Ford Bronco Sport, Maverick, and Mustang Mach-E, respectively, as well as Engine Plants I, II, and III in Chihuahua, producing Duratec I-4 engines (2.0 and 2.5 liters), 6.7-liter Power Stroke Diesel V8 engines, 4.4-liter diesel engines, and 1.5-liter Dragon 3-cylinder engines.

An increasing number of automakers and parts suppliers are joining Ford in the electric vehicle production chain in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. In May of this year, BMW began construction of an $860 million electric battery-assembly facility at its plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The batteries will be used for BMW's next generation of electric cars. 

The battery module plant is scheduled to open in 2027

According to the International Energy Agency, global electric vehicle sales in 2023 were 3.5 million higher than in 2022, a 35% year-on-year increase. Electric vehicles accounted for about 18% of all car sales in 2023, up from 14% in 2022.