Mexico Opens Olinia Production to Private Companies; Call Closes in December

The Mexican government will open production of Olinia, its nationally developed electric vehicle project, to domestic and foreign companies through a public call aimed at establishing a company with a majority of Mexican capital. President Claudia Sheinbaum made the announcement on Thursday, August 20, according to Forbes México.

The mixed-investment structure was defined by the Ministry of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (Secihti), the Olinia project, and Nacional Financiera (Nafin). "What we are looking for is not primarily money (obviously money will come in this round), but rather industrial and commercial capacity," said Roberto Capuano, director of Olinia. The call, which Nafin will administer, will be open to Mexican and foreign companies "on equal terms," according to Aristegui Noticias. The terms will be published at the end of September and partner selection will conclude in December, under the supervision of state institutions.

During the presentation, the government unveiled Olinia Cargo, the platform's second vehicle and the first designed for freight transport. It will carry up to 650 kilograms, accommodate 12 crates (huacales), offer a range exceeding 120 kilometers, and charge from a standard outlet. Operating it costs four times less than a light cargo vehicle and one-third the cost of a motorized cargo tricycle (motocarro), according to Capuano. The model will go on sale at the end of 2027 at a price close to 150,000 pesos (approximately 8,840 dollars). Olinia 1, for short-distance passenger transport, will be commercialized in the summer of 2027. The platform also includes Olinia Van, an enclosed version for the protected transport of goods. The project, developed by approximately 70 specialists from TecNM, IPN, and UNAM, targets an initial production run of 10,000 units with a goal of 50,000.

The next step is to transform the project into a company capable of manufacturing, distributing, and selling vehicles in Mexico, and later expanding to other markets, according to the presented timeline. The call's terms will be published at the end of September and partner selection will conclude in December; the outcome will determine which companies join Olinia's manufacturing chain.

This article was written with artificial intelligence assistance based on verified sources and reviewed by a human editor before publication.