Manufacturing
Delphi shifting Anahuac operations to Saltillo
Maquila Portal - Because of damages caused by Hurricane Alex, Delphi is closing its cable and component assembly plant in Anahuac, putting about 700 employees out of work, and shifting operations to Saltillo, where it plans a plant expansion.
Polaris is shifting work from Wisconsin to Nuevo Leon
Maquila Portal - Polaris Industries announced it will transfer its operations from Osceola, Wisconsin, to the municipality of Apodaca in Nuevo Leon, where they will invest $55 million to start producing ATVs and SUVs by March or April 2011.
Manufactuing workforce grows 2.3% this year
El Financiero - Manufacturing employment recorded an increase of 4.7 percent in June, compared to the same month last year, to close the first half of the year with an increase of 2.3 percent, the Institute National Statistics and Geography (INEGI) reports.
Peso falls for fourth day, extending losing streak
Bloomberg - Mexico’s peso fell for a fourth day, its longest losing streak in seven weeks, on concern slowing economic growth in the U.S. will curb demand for the nation’s exports. The peso fell 1.1 percent to 12.9084 per dollar from 12.7652 on Aug. 20.
Canada nips at Mexico's auto production ranking
Maquila Portal - Even if Mexico has kept its ranking as the tenth largest vehicle producer, Canada is very close behind, with only 71 thousand fewer units, according to data from the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers (AIAM). As a result of the international economic crisis, the number of vehicles manufactured in Mexico dropped 28 percent from 2008 to 2009.
Strike averted at Volkswagen Puebla plant
El Universal - A strike scheduled to begin tonight, Wednesday, was averted when Volkswagen and union workers at its plant in Puebla reached an agreement on a 6.09 percent direct wage hike and a 0.5 percent increase in benefits, including food coupons.
Mexico-China venture to build streetcars for Mexico
Maquila Portal - The Mexican company PCZ Construcciones says it has a deal with the Chinese companies CNR and China Railway International, better known as CRI, to build streetcars in Mexico that will serve the Mexican cities of Morelia and Zacatecas with operations starting next year.
Brawl at Puebla factory injures six, two of them pregnant
La Jornada - A brawl at Johnson Controls Interiors in Puebla on Monday left six workers injured, including two pregnant women. A dispute over union representation of the workers has been ongoing. Managers were to discuss a pact yesterday, but the meeting was canceled.
Industrial production falls for first time in six months
Sentido Comun - Mexico's industrial production fell 0.4 percent in seasonally adjusted terms in June against May, the first decline in six months. Manufacturing fell 0.1 percent in June compared to May, the mining sector fell 1.2 percent and construction fell 1.4 percent.
Solar panel firm shifting work from U.S. to Tijuana
Bloomberg - Struggling Michigan solar panel maker Energy Conversion Devices will eliminate 140 U.S. jobs as it shifts some production from Michigan to Tijuana, Mexico, to save money. Energy Conversion's losses totaled $436 million through the first nine months of its fiscal year.
