In 2017, a U.S. special forces unit went deep into Mexico's hinterland to capture Mexican drug lord Guzmán. The legend had been imprisoned twice before, the first time he bribed the prison owner to make it a personal palace, and even escaped from prison with a swagger; the second time, he spent $50 million to build a tunnel with an underground motorcycle and successfully escaped from prison; It was only for the third time that he was finally caught. And the whole process,Official Mexican is almost the "last" person in the know. 
Subsequently, the United States successfully extradited Guzmán and sentenced him by a federal court$12.6 billion in fines. This money, as a matter of course, was also handed over to the United States**. Although there is a possibility of collaboration with the enemy in Mexico, the "cross-border law enforcement power" of the United States can still say a lot - at leastMexico, the "backyard of North America", is called "North America's backyard". And it is such a country that is subject to the United States in many ways, butIt has become the first choice for many Chinese car companies and first-class chains to build factories overseas! Even Musk has openly and secretly encouraged ** businessmen to build factories in Mexico, which is the so-called "special chain" into ink. The purpose is simple, of course, in the hope that the Mexican factory will make cheaper Tesla cars. 
But many people think,This is a "pig killing plate" against China's top businessmen. After taking root, companies are likely to be constrained by U.S. policies, and may even encounter the U.S.'s dismantling of Alstom, which will "take down" Chinese technology by framing executives in prison. After all, from a historical point of view, such worries are not exaggerated at all. Of course, there are also those who think this statement is too sensational and ridiculous. So,Is Mexico really the Tiger's Den in Longtan? Do I have to be in the game? Hello everyone, I am the president of the Electric Vehicle Corporation. Today, let's take a look at the impact of the automobile ** chain "going to sea" Mexico on the new energy going to sea? And how to break the game?
01.Incoming:
Mexico, a battleground for soldiers
When it comes to Mexico, the key words that come to many people's minds may be: chicken wraps, smuggling, drug lords and criminals' paradise ......
But it also has a couple of tags:It is the world's seventh-largest automobile producer, the fifth-largest parts producer, one of the world's most open economies, and has signed free agreements with 52 countries.
And the most eye-catching "data" in Mexico and China over the years is automobiles.
In 2016, Mexico imported almost zero cars from China, but by 2023, Mexico has imported 330,000 cars from China!
If it weren't for the Russian market, 770,000 units were imported due to the "counterattack" of the warMexico is a well-deserved number one.
Although from the data, the proportion of new energy vehicles exported to Mexico is very low, and the exported cars are not all domestic brands, Volkswagen, BMW and other brands of fuel vehicles are also the main force sold to Mexico. But it can still be seen that Mexico is forChina has hit the world's largest car exporter, which is of vital strategic importance. Moreover,There's another key piece of data behind this that is easy to ignore.
As early as 2019, Mexico imported auto parts from China, including engine parts, braking systems, suspension systems, transmissions, electrical equipment, etcThe total is close to 5 billion US dollars, accounting for 185%。
That's rightMexico, as the seventh largest car manufacturer, has long been an important importer of Chinese auto parts. We've even got Mexico's second-largest importer of auto parts, after the United States.
(Guanajuato, Mexico).
It can be said that Mexico is an important market for China, both in automobile manufacturing and vehicle sales.
And friends who know the Mexican market should know that Mexico has a second "nickname", that is"North American backyard" and "bridgehead" to enter the North American market.
The reason for this is that the so-called "Mexican market" actually consists of two main parts
The first is the Mexican home market in the traditional sense. However, due to the level of economic development and the gap between the rich and the poor in the country, Mexico's domestic market is also growing, but it is not enough to match its status as a country with a population of 100 million.
In particular, the local electrification process in Mexico is still a world of fuel vehicles because of the shortage of electricity** and the scarcity of charging piles like India.
The best-selling models of Chinese brands such as MG and Chery Jietu in Mexico are also mainly economical fuel vehicles.
(Jietu invested $3 billion to build a new plant in Mexico.)In the first two or three years, it will produce gasoline vehicles, and then switch to pure electric vehicles).
And the second is the key market that has attracted much attention - the North American market.
Because of the much-anticipated 1994 billNorth American Liberty Agreement**To put it simply, Mexico, Canada and the United States will gradually eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers for products that "originate in three countries" within 10-15 years.
Originally, this agreement was, to some extent, actually trueA weapon to help the United States open up the Mexican market and form a "dumping" position.
But as the process of turning the United States from real to virtual and developing into a financial empire continues, the unexpected appears.
Mexico has become the best producer of goods to the U.S. market in areas such as automobile manufacturing, with zero tariffs. What's more, Mexico also occupies a lot of geographical advantages in terms of transportation and access to the sea.
It would not be an exaggeration to irresponsibly say that "whoever wins Mexico gets the North American market"! 
In the big game of Chinese brands, especially new energy going overseas, the North American market, like the European market, is a crucial place to compete.
After all, if you don't enter the game, the world's largest market with spending power is likely to be eaten by others, or even raise another strong opponent. So,It can be said that it is imperative to build a factory and a first-class chain in Mexico. Since we have to enter the game, what is this game, and what is the key to breaking the game?
02.Breaking the game:
Tucked away in the Mexican automotive industry chain
More than 100 years ago, when Buick built its first plant in Mexico, there was no North American Freedom Agreement**, but there were still many car factories pouring into Mexico.
Ford, General Motors, have built factories in Mexico, the reason is a bit vulgar - simply yesMexico is cheap to build a factory.
Unlike North America, where high prices, high-welfare labor, and expensive rents are high, Mexico, which borders the United States in a large area, can be said to be "inexpensive" and is simply a paradise for business owners!
Taking advantage of this east wind, Mexico has also achieved a lot of development. Over the years, it has not only sat on more than 30 OEMs such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW, but also established many automobile-related professional schools and cultivated a large number of talents.
Even the scarce lithium ore and other resources for new energy electric vehicles, Mexico is also rich in reserves. It can be said that in the field of automobile production and manufacturing,Mexico is a gathering of "time, place, and people".
The last Beetle, which rolled off the assembly line at Volkswagen's Puebla plant in Mexico).
Therefore, even Musk said at the investor conference in May 2023 that Mexico will be chosen for the new gigafactory, and the two next-generation new cars are also scheduled to be produced at Tesla's Mexico factory.
However, when Musk was not optimistic about the North American car market, the Mexican factory began to be plagued by rumors such as "shutdown".
For details, please stamp: Who has invested 5 billion yuan in the world's largest electric vehicle factory?
Obviously,From production to sales, Mexico's *** has always been "looking up to the United States".
So, the crisis came.
On February 23 of this year, the American Manufacturing Alliance said:The U.S. should block imports of low-cost Chinese cars and parts from Mexico, warning that it could threaten the viability of U.S. auto companies.
Obviously, some people in the United States have long seen the "construction of Mexican cars and resale to the United States", which can legally avoid the high tariff barriers deliberately set up by the United States to make Chinese products.
It is even reported that the US Treasury Secretary went to Mexico in December last year to negotiate a new agreement for the purpose ofStrengthen Mexico's scrutiny of foreign investment.
It goes without saying which country to invest in.
And given Mexico's usual attitude toward the United States, the likelihood of refusing to cooperate with the United States is slim.
Therefore, now in the absence of targeted policies, it is a crucial levelMexico has become a trap that can be stuck in your pocket at any time.
At this time, car companies or first-chain companies that do not deploy in Mexico may miss the big cake of the North American market.
However, after the layout, it is very necessary to face the huge risk of change at any time.
It's a dilemma.
How do we choose? The answer, in fact, is hidden in the map.
Currently, Mexican automakers are mainly located in Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León and other states adjacent to the United States, and can use the intercontinental highway to the United States to achieve rapid transportation.
But with the development of time, Mexico's *** is gradually extending into the hinterland.
Auto parts manufacturers have extended along the Gulf of Mexico to the state of Mexico, Puebla and other places in the hinterland of Mexico, and even the state of Querétaro has established Mexico's first first-class university - Innovation and Automotive Development Center.
In fact, you can see thatMexico is determined to develop and expand this pillar industry.
But what trapped Mexico may be the phrase: "Too far from heaven, too close to America." ”
In 2020, three countries signed the provisions of the United States-Mexico-Canada** Agreement, cars and parts produced in Mexico are eligible for preferential treatment in the United States and are eligible for the $7,500 U.S. electric vehicle tax credit.
This agreement, as a supplementary agreement in 1994, established Mexico's position as a "bridgehead" in the North American market, and will continue Mexico's troubles of being controlled by others.
Perhaps no one understands the pain of a world seventh-largest car manufacturer that has not been able to develop its own car brand.
Is Mexico sorry? Maybe.
But Mexico must admit that Mexico can only prosper with a large North American market, so although there is no negative buff that can not develop a national brand due to the protection of tariff barriers, Mexico can only accept its fate, after all, you can't have both.
However, China's industrial chain has become a new opportunity for Mexican industrial development from some angles.
03.New Bureau:
Layout in Mexico, mutual benefit
As early as 2023, after Tesla announced the construction of a new gigafactory in Mexico, domestic Tesla supporting parts companies have a group of "vanguards" to accelerate the layout of Mexican factories.
Xinquan Co., Ltd., Minth Group, Wanfeng Aowei, Joyson Electronics, Wencan Co., Ltd. and other enterprises have been deployed in Mexico.
In addition to Tesla's own charm, Mexico's local policy has also contributed a lot.
In fact, back in 1993,Mexico, for example, has a Foreign Direct Investment Act. Between 1999 and 2022, 1,486 foreign companies have invested in the Mexican automotive industry, totaling more than US$88.2 billion, of which 56% are from auto parts and 41% are from light vehicle production.
Clearly, Mexico is very welcoming and dependent on foreign investment.
At that time, car companies such as the United States and Japan were the largest entrants in Mexico.
However, times have changed, and now the United States is eager to let the manufacturing industry return to its own country, and it would be good not to grab food from the Mexican bowl, I am afraid that "the landlord's family has no surplus grain" to supply.
At this time, we are also willing to expand the factory overseasCountries that deploy more businesses and employ local people are Mexico's best friends.
And the best opportunity at the moment can be said to be new energy vehicles.
On February 16 of this year, Volkswagen Mexico announced an investment plan of about $1 billion, which is the second round of Volkswagen's investment in the electric vehicle business in central Mexico.
And that's not all,Mexico's industry-hungry and inclusive attitude will also be a powerful tool to attract foreign investment.
For example, Tesla's German factory expansion plan has been repeatedly opposed by local residents, and there are many reasons such as "water resource protection", "forest protection", "employee welfare protection" and other restrictions, so that the factory's production capacity cannot meet expectations, which is likely to affect Musk's "big plan".
But all this is probably not worth mentioning for Mexico in the short term.
This kind of "tolerance" is obviously a hit and off for the current Tesla.
And when Tesla, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and even the United States' own car companies GM and Ford have also taken root in Mexico to produce electric vehicles, it is inevitable to use the supporting car ** chain.
Lithium ore smelting, power battery, three-electric system,Many things may no longer be so simple, and they can no longer be solved by simply playing politics and adjusting tariff barriers.
In fact, Mexico raised tariffs on Chinese imports as early as July last year, but it has done nothing and is difficult to do in developing local manufacturing, which is a good thing for its own people.
And that's exactly what we've been here all these years onThe fundamental reason for the pursuit of new technology and irreplaceability in the new energy industry chain.
Only when you are strong can you turn all kinds of conspiracies into jokes.
Finally, the president remembered that Guzmán** had later talked about the reason for his drug trafficking.
This powerful and murderous drug lord only used a simple sentence:"I sell drugs because there is no other job to do, we (the locals) only grow poppies. ”
As industry grows and jobs increase, more and more Mexicans will go to work and have a normal job.
Mexico will not refuse, and cannot refuse, real benefits.
And the happiness that belongs to the Mexican people will eventually come, and everything will be fine.