The rules began to change in California, USA, but for Bali Express Services, the path was already laid out. While regulatory pressure eased for private fleets to incorporate zero-emission vehicles , the carrier decided to maintain a strategy that began years ago and now finds in operational efficiency an additional reason to keep moving forward.

In September 2025, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved amendments to the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation in the United States, which contemplate eliminating requirements applicable to private and federal fleets, including those corresponding to port haul trucks.

The change was also felt on the other side of the operation: the customers.

“The number one challenge was the lack of interest from customers,” said Juan Báez, CEO of Bali Express, in an interview with T21.

The equation has changed. While previously some customers were willing to pay more to have their goods transported in clean vehicles, now that difference is harder to pass on to customers. For Bali Express, the answer was to ensure its electric vehicles could compete not only on emissions but also on performance: making them as efficient as, or even more efficient than, a diesel or compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle .

As the regulatory landscape shifted, the fleet continued to grow, and Bali Express placed an order for 60 Tesla tractor-trailers . The first 20 will arrive during the last quarter of 2026, and the remaining 40 during the first quarter of 2027.

The first unit is already in the company’s hands. With the new vehicles will also come something that until now had defined the limits of electrification: greater range. Báez indicated that they will have a range of up to 500 miles (about 805 kilometers) , which will allow for an expansion of the distances that electric operation can cover.

But putting an electric vehicle on the road doesn’t begin when the driver steps on the accelerator. The operation also depends on when and where to charge it .

In Southern California, Bali Express avoids charging its vehicles between 4:00 PM and 9:00 PM, the period when electricity rates are highest. This energy availability necessitates incorporating another variable into daily planning.

“It forces you to be more efficient. It forces you to plan your operation better,” Báez explained.

In return, the units offer telematic information on distance traveled, energy consumption and efficiency, allowing for a daily snapshot of their performance.

The company will also have an electric vehicle charging station in San Diego, California , which is scheduled to be completed between March and April 2027 and which, according to Báez, will significantly reduce energy costs.

A route that already crosses the border

The strategy already has a concrete track record between the United States and Mexico. The Green Trucking Corridor Long Beach-Tijuana combines electric and CNG-powered trucks to move goods between California and Baja California, a project that was recognized on June 25 by the Port of Long Beach.

And the border doesn’t mean the end of the electric journey. The units enter Mexico and make deliveries to the maquiladora industry in Baja California.

The path, however, is further shortened when charging stations disappear. Báez acknowledged that outside of California, the lack of charging infrastructure limits the possibility of expanding these operations , one of the obstacles that greater autonomy seeks to begin reducing.

Meanwhile, suppliers linked to the Long Beach operation are already working on corridors that would connect the port to Phoenix, Arizona; and Las Vegas, Nevada .

California changed some of the rules that drove the transition. Bali Express, on the other hand, decided to maintain its route. Now the challenge will be to demonstrate that decarbonization can continue to advance even when it is no longer a requirement and must also be sustained through efficiency.

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El cargo Bali Express makes progress in decarbonization despite less regulatory pressure in California apareció primero en T21.

The automotive industry is in a period of transformation , driven by the relocation of production chains, disruptive technologies and the energy transition, which will be crucial to advancing in various aspects that are already redefining the sector, including electromobility .

In the panel “Navigating the transformation in the automotive industry”, within the framework of the Mexico’s Nearshoring & Logistics Auto Industry Summit, Diego Ramírez, Director of Government Relations for Latin America at Nissan Motor Corporation , highlighted that there are very important changes in technology, in the electrification of vehicles, although there are other issues that impact the sector, such as the current geopolitical situation , which has generated a new paradigm in the industry.

“The automotive industry is undergoing many changes, coinciding with increased competition. All of this requires companies to make the necessary adjustments and adapt accordingly,” said Ramírez, who indicated that the best approach for each user must be determined regarding electromobility.

“There is a range of 100% plug-in, autonomous and other electromobility options, so we have to find the one that best suits the users,” he explained.

Despite this environment, Carlos Gutiérrez, Director of Government and External Affairs at BMW Group Mexico , considered that the automotive industry is very dynamic and that factors such as the economic, political, technological, and even consumer tastes have changed in different markets, which has forced automakers to innovate.

“The trend towards using more technology in vehicles challenges companies to be more innovative, to have many more tools to create better products,” he stressed, while noting that new market trends and political aspects in various regions of the world “will lead us to a completely different kind of mobility than what we are used to.”

For Gutiérrez, the use of new technologies, of artificial intelligence (AI) in vehicles will give the consumer a different vision of mobility in the future .

The nearshoring phenomenon has become an important factor in attracting investment, relocating manufacturing and component centers closer to target markets.

However, experts warned that this concept is no longer strictly limited to geographical proximity to avoid logistical disruptions like those that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, but rather represents a comprehensive industrial integration project where Mexico stands out for its skilled workforce .

They agreed that the main differentiator will no longer be solely the technological capacity of the manufacturing plants, but the talent to operate new tools to continue keeping Mexico at the top of vehicle production.

According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) , in the period January-June 2026, the production of vehicles in Mexican plants was 1,996,304 light vehicles , and although this figure represented a drop of 0.42% compared to the same period in 2025, Mexico continues to be one of the most important countries in automotive manufacturing.

Meanwhile, 1,689,245 units were exported in the first six months of the year , an increase of 1.4% compared to the same period last year.

The panel made it clear that the future of the automotive industry will be marked by the evolution of the geopolitical environment, the adoption of new technologies and the availability of clean energy, in a sector that is advancing towards electromobility by leaps and bounds.

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El cargo Technology, electromobility and nearshoring are shaping the automotive industry’s future. apareció primero en T21.

Transportation and logistics companies formed the Cargo Infrastructure Task Force , whose objective will be to promote electrification through cargo infrastructure for medium and heavy vehicles in Mexico through a shared investment scheme that distributes costs and reduces the risk of each organization.

The project emerged from an initiative of the Global Sustainability Electromobility Playground and was co-convened by the National Association of Private Transport (ANTP) , its most strategic sector partner.

In this way, Grupo Bimbo , Mercado Libre , Coca-Cola FEMSA , Heineken México , OXXO , Alsea , VEMO , Siemens , OXXO Gas , Voltway , Deléctrico , Grupo Marva, International , Volvo , BYD Trucks , ADO Mobility , among other companies, will work on designing and implementing a shared investment model in charging infrastructure.

“The World Cup taught us a lesson: teams that play as a team win, not those that just put together good players. It’s the same with electromobility. No single company can solve the charging infrastructure problem on its own. Today, the private sector is choosing to join forces and collaborate. And there’s already a clear plan: to electrify the Mexico-Querétaro corridor,” said Alex Theissen, president of the ANTP Board of Directors.

The group will also identify strategic points for deploying charging infrastructure —both last mile and long-distance— and outline a first joint shared investment project, in addition to the availability of electricity at the points where the charging centers will be installed, a factor that determines where and when electrification is viable.

According to a survey conducted among participating companies, more than 320 cargo vehicles were identified that are seeking to be electrified by 2027 and nearly 1,400 by 2035 .

As of the first quarter of 2026, Mexico had only one electric vehicle charging station for every 49 electric vehicles (four thousand 802 stations for 235 thousand 501 units).

For heavy freight transport, the challenge transcends the total amount installed and focuses on strategically deploying infrastructure in logistics and highway corridors to guarantee uninterrupted intercity journeys, an indispensable factor to ensure territorial equity and avoid bottlenecks in the electrification of the sector.

Isabel Studer, president of Global Sustainability, stated that “the transition to clean energy will not happen by waiting for the government to solve everything. We need to change that mindset: the private sector needs to stop waiting and take a leading role.”

He emphasized that companies coordinating today can assume the role that the State assumed in other countries —reducing the pioneer’s risk and distributing the costs— and, “in doing so, gain competitiveness in global value chains , improve environmental quality and generate green jobs.”

The model draws on experiences in demand aggregation and business collaboration developed in markets such as the United States, Colombia, and Brazil.

The Electromobility Playground is structured around four partners — Global Sustainability, ANTP, CALSTART and The Climate Group — each with a complementary role.

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El cargo Transport and logistics companies are investing in electromobility apareció primero en T21.

The discussion about electromobility in Mexico usually focuses on reducing emissions, but for this transition to also strengthen the country’s competitiveness, it is necessary to solve structural challenges such as electricity generation, charging infrastructure, and the modernization of public transport.

According to David Bonilla, a researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) , the electrification of transportation cannot be analyzed in isolation, since its economic impact will depend on the country’s ability to develop the necessary infrastructure and public policies to accompany this transformation.

In an interview with T21, he explained that, in freight transport, the railway maintains a cost advantage per ton moved; however, the increase in the capacity of tractor-trailers, particularly double-trailer trucks, has reduced that difference and put pressure on the competitiveness of the rail mode.

“Trains can indeed have many benefits that go beyond costs, such as reducing the number of road accidents, decreasing local pollution and also carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions,” he noted.

Bonilla believes that Mexico is progressing slowly in the adoption of heavy electric vehicles compared to markets like China or Germany , where this type of technology is already beginning to be used in commercial operations.

He explained that one of the main challenges for electric tractor-trailers is the size and weight of the batteries, which limits their range and efficiency in high-capacity units. Therefore, he estimated that electrification will first advance in urban delivery and last-mile delivery vehicles, where range requirements are lower.

However, he warned that the biggest challenge is not solely technological.

“We do not have enough electricity generation in the country if there were a sudden increase in electricity demand,” he stated.

He added that the limited availability of strategic minerals such as lithium for battery manufacturing means that Mexico needs an industrial policy that identifies and addresses these bottlenecks before electrification reaches a larger scale.

Electromobility requires a comprehensive vision

In addition to freight transport, Bonilla considered that the discussion on electromobility should not be limited to replacing combustion vehicles with electric ones.

The specialist pointed out that one of the least discussed aspects is that electrification, by itself, will not solve problems such as urban congestion if it is not accompanied by greater investment in public transport.

“The transition to electromobility has that Achilles’ heel of not solving the space problem,” he argued.

In that regard, he stated that electromobility must be taken into account in a comprehensive way, such as the gradual replacement of public transport units that operate with diesel or gasoline with hybrid or electric buses, as well as the expansion of mass transport systems where there is sufficient demand, which would contribute to reducing emissions and improving mobility in cities.

Regarding the energy sources that should accompany the transition, Bonilla indicated that electrification does not imply relying exclusively on renewable energy. He explained that, due to their intermittent nature, technologies such as solar and wind power need to be complemented by other generation sources that guarantee the electricity supply .

He also highlighted the potential of distributed generation for homes and businesses to produce some of the electricity they consume and to power electric vehicles with their own energy . However, he considered it essential to develop regulatory and economic incentives to accelerate these schemes.

Finally, he warned that delaying the modernization of transport has costs that are not usually accounted for , such as higher health expenses resulting from pollution, greater dependence on fossil fuels, increased emissions, and economic losses associated with congestion.

“If you have an efficient public transportation system, journeys will be faster and you will be able to distribute your daily life time in a better way,” he stressed.

The Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) reported at the end of 2025 that there were 82 electric vehicles in the federal freight transport service, a figure that barely represented 0.01% of the more than 762,800 units that at that time made up this fleet.

Furthermore, the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in Mexico grew 26% year-on-year by the end of 2025, adding 56,726 public and private charging positions , according to the Electromobility Barometer of the Electromobility Association (EMA) , reflecting a growing adoption of electric cars.

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El cargo Mexico needs a comprehensive strategy to make electromobility competitive apareció primero en T21.

Electromobility in Mexico has ceased to be an exclusive technology and has become an increasingly accessible alternative for businesses and consumers. The arrival of new brands, the reduction in the price of electric vehicles , and the pressure of sustainability goals are driving growth that already exceeds 30% annually, while in the business segment, the progress is even greater.

This was confirmed by Jorge Jiménez Sólomon , Senior Manager of Customer Relations for Electric Vehicles at Element Fleet Management , who highlighted that the Mexican market is going through a consolidation phase driven by economic, technological and environmental factors.

“Five years ago, electromobility was perceived as a premium topic, reserved for high-cost vehicles. Today, there are options starting at around 300,000 pesos, and that means the technology has been democratized,” he explained.

This increased supply, he said, is due to the opening of the Mexican market and the arrival of new manufacturers that have increased competition and brought the prices of electric vehicles closer to those of internal combustion engines in different segments.

Beyond the purchase price, Jiménez Sólomon stressed that the main argument for adopting electric vehicles is the total cost of ownership (TCO) .

Although the initial investment remains a factor in the analysis, the lower maintenance costs, the smaller number of mechanical components, and the price of electricity compared to gasoline make the economic equation favorable, especially in intensive operations.

“Not only has the cost of acquiring vehicles decreased, but operating an electric vehicle is also more economical throughout its useful life,” he commented.

On average, electricity costs between 60% and 70% less than fossil fuels. Furthermore, electric vehicles are estimated to reduce maintenance costs by between 30% and 75% thanks to their fewer components and less mechanical wear.

Fleets are leading the transition

While the consumer market is steadily advancing, the business sector is accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles, driven by environmental commitments set for 2030 and by operational benefits.

Jiménez Sólomon explained that last-mile companies represent one of the segments with the greatest potential because they travel between 100 and 150 kilometers daily and their units remain parked overnight in distribution centers, where they can be recharged without affecting operations.

“Electromobility is primarily an urban phenomenon. Last-mile delivery companies take full advantage of the range of these vehicles and achieve significant operational savings,” he said.

Another rapidly advancing sector is that of app-based transportation platforms, whose drivers make constant journeys within cities and maximize the economic benefits of electrification.

One of the main questions surrounding electromobility continues to be the charging infrastructure . However, the executive explained that most of the chargers installed in Mexico are not located in public spaces.

According to data from the sector association cited by the specialist, there are around 50,000 chargers in the country , of which only between four and five thousand are public; the rest are located in homes, offices and distribution centers.

This is in response to the way most fleets operate, whose vehicles remain stopped for several hours, allowing the use of level 2 chargers that complete the charging process in a period of six to eight hours.

The energy debate

Regarding the criticisms related to the Mexican energy matrix, Jiménez considered that the analysis must be done with context.

Around 35% of the electricity generated in Mexico comes from renewable sources , a higher proportion than in the United States; however, the country has room to increase its capacity through solar, wind and hydroelectric power.

In Mexico, driving an electric vehicle costs up to 70% less than driving a gasoline-powered one.

The specialist emphasized that the main environmental difference lies in the fact that an electric vehicle does not generate emissions during its operation.

“It is important to distinguish between the emissions associated with the manufacturing of the vehicle and those it produces while driving. An electric vehicle does not have a combustion process and, therefore, does not emit pollutants while in motion,” he stated.

Electrification is also transforming the concept of fleet management .

Jorge Jiménez explained that it is no longer enough to manage the vehicle, but now it is necessary to manage the entire ecosystem: charging infrastructure, financing, maintenance, telemetry, data analysis and associated services.

“Electromobility can only be successful if we manage both the vehicle and the ecosystem that surrounds it,” he stated.

In this context, technologies such as telemetry, data analysis, and artificial intelligence will allow for the optimization of fleet performance and improved decision-making.

Looking ahead to 2030, the executive dismissed the idea that Mexico is lagging behind in electromobility, although he considered it essential to accelerate the digitization of regulatory processes and establish clear rules that facilitate the arrival of new investments.

He also highlighted the country’s structural strengths, such as its integration with the United States and Canada, the capacity of its automotive industry, and the availability of specialized talent.

“Mexico has one of the highest numbers of engineers per capita among the countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)  and a deeply integrated automotive industry. We have everything we need to remain leaders in this new phase of the sector,” he said.

In his opinion, in the coming years not only will the presence of electric vehicle manufacturers increase, but an ecosystem of Mexican companies dedicated to charging infrastructure, technological services, maintenance and training of specialized talent will also emerge, consolidating electromobility as one of the engines of transformation of the national automotive industry.

According to data from the Electro Mobility Association (EMA) , approximately 43,358 electric cars were sold in Mexico in 2025 alone, representing a 38.55% increase compared to 2024. This rise reflects a change in consumer behavior and the willingness of some companies to adopt these types of vehicles in their operations.

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El cargo Electromobility accelerates fleet adoption towards 2030: Element Fleet apareció primero en T21.

The conversation about electromobility in Mexico is no longer solely about innovation and sustainability. Today, for the transportation industry, the real discussion is much more uncomfortable and strategic: how viable is it to electrify an operation without compromising productivity, profitability, and logistical continuity? Because while public discourse tends to focus on the electric future of transportation , operational reality still demands a practical approach.

Fleet electrification is indeed progressing, but at very different speeds depending on the type of operation, the available infrastructure, and the financial capacity of companies. In Mexico, technological enthusiasm still coexists with significant structural limitations: high investment costs, insufficient charging infrastructure, and logistics operations that simply cannot be halted.

And that is perhaps the most important point, one that is rarely stated clearly: in transportation, time is profitability . A vehicle stopped, even if only to recharge, is an asset that ceases to produce.

Therefore, at least in the short term, electromobility seems to find its most natural foothold in the last mile ; there, conditions are favorable with predominantly urban routes, shorter distances, and operations that allow vehicles to return to the distribution center to recharge outside of operating hours. A vehicle with a range of around 300 kilometers can be perfectly functional for operations that cover between 100 and 150 kilometers daily.

This also explains why adoption is concentrated mainly in cities like Mexico City, State of Mexico, Nuevo León and Jalisco, regions where urban density favors shorter journeys and where the charging infrastructure is beginning to develop more rapidly, unlike in less dense cities, where journeys are longer and more dispersed, the equation changes radically.

However, it would be a mistake to interpret this situation as a definitive halt. Rather, we are witnessing a transitional phase where the private sector is playing a decisive role in accelerating the ecosystem; we see how companies in the food, beverage, and courier industries have already begun building their own cargo hubs , driving infrastructure that the public sector has not yet been able to develop at the necessary speed.

And there is an important message for the industry: electrification will not advance solely through technological will, but through a collaborative strategy where government, private initiative and technology providers will have to coordinate to strengthen the infrastructure in key logistics nodes , guarantee energy stability and create viable operating conditions for fleets.

In parallel, telemetry is becoming a critical part of this transition; managing an electric fleet involves not only monitoring routes, but also understanding battery behavior in real time, optimizing charging cycles, identifying premature degradation, and efficiently coordinating the rotation of units and chargers. Here, energy management becomes as important as logistics management.

This is where one of the most interesting aspects of this new stage lies: electromobility no longer depends solely on the vehicle, but on the operational intelligence surrounding it. The energy transition in transportation will not happen suddenly or uniformly , and perhaps that is the most common mistake when talking about electromobility: thinking of it as an immediate replacement, when in reality it will be a gradual coexistence of different technologies and different operating models.

Check out Eduardo’s previous column:  The human factor in the age of telemetry .

*Eduardo Allegre is the general manager of  Métrica Móvil .

Connect and comment with  Eduardo Allegre on LinkedIn .

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El cargo Electromobility in Mexico: the operational reality behind the electric future apareció primero en T21.

Ten years after laying the first stone, BMW Group Plant San Luis Potosí has ​​consolidated itself as one of the German automaker’s strategic operations globally and as a relevant link within the automotive chain in Mexico.

The story began in 2016 with the announcement of an investment in Villa de Reyes, San Luis Potosí, which aimed to transform the country into a production platform for premium vehicles destined for international markets. A decade later, the operation has accumulated investments of nearly two billion dollars and is preparing to enter a new phase marked by electromobility .

“Ten years ago, we began building a plant; today we see the impact of having built a community of talent, innovation, and collaboration that has contributed to the growth of San Luis Potosí and the strengthening of the Mexican automotive industry. The most important part of this story is not only the vehicles we produce, but the people who have made this project possible and the opportunities we have created together,” highlighted Klaus von Moltke, President and CEO of BMW Group Plant San Luis Potosí.

Since the start of operations in 2019, the plant has produced more than 550,000 vehicles for export, integrating into the BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and strengthening Mexico’s position within the global automotive industry.

Among the manufactured models, the BMW 3 Series stands out, as well as the M2 and the 2 Series Coupé, the latter two manufactured exclusively in Mexico and exported to customers all over the world, in addition to the BMW M2 Racing and the BMW M2 CS, limited production versions.

Currently, approximately 3,700 employees are part of the daily operation of the plant, and it has also generated around 32,000 jobs indirectly, through suppliers, specialized services, logistics, construction, commerce and other activities linked to the value chain.

The brand works with a network of suppliers that has more than 310 production sites in Mexico , which strengthens national supply chains under the principle of local production.

As part of its global electromobility strategy, the BMW Group announced in 2023 an €800 million investment in the production of electric vehicles and high-voltage batteries in Mexico . This investment is part of a long-term commitment that increases the automaker’s cumulative investment in the country and represents a 110,000-square-meter expansion of the plant’s operations.

“The next stage for BMW Group Plant San Luis Potosí will be marked by the expansion of its capabilities for integrating electric vehicles into our production line. This technological and organizational adaptation will allow us to further strengthen our team and optimize our processes in the face of an increasingly volatile environment. We are preparing the plant for the future, strengthening it and making it even more competitive in a constantly changing global environment,” emphasized Klaus von Moltke.

Starting in 2027, the plant will produce two models from the Neue Klasse platform, the BMW iX3 and the BMW i3, consolidating Mexico’s strategic role in the future of global mobility.

The plant’s evolution has been accompanied by a talent development strategy . More than 1,200 young people have participated in professional internship programs, and more than 570 apprentices have completed the Dual Vocational Training Program, inspired by the German model of technical training, with a 95 percent hiring rate.

“BMW Group’s vision has been to prepare new generations for an increasingly technological, digital, and electromobility-oriented industry. As a result, more than 110 Mexican employees have participated in international projects within BMW Group’s global network in countries such as Germany, Hungary, China, the United States, and South Africa,” the company emphasized.

Furthermore, during the last decade, BMW Group has promoted, among other actions, initiatives focused on education, community development, sports and culture , contributing to the well-being of more than 220,000 people in San Luis Potosí.

According to data from the municipality of Villa de Reyes, exports increased by 1,600% since BMW’s arrival. By November 2025, the municipality accounted for 42% of total exports and generated 30% of the state’s gross domestic product.

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El cargo BMW Group celebrates 10 years in San Luis Potosí and accelerates towards electromobility apareció primero en T21.

Women’s participation in technical areas of the trucking industry is gaining ground with the launch of ” Techniques of the Future ,” a program promoted by Scania Mexico and the German Technical Cooperation (GIZ) that seeks to train specialized female talent for the heavy transport industry, the companies reported through a press release.

The initiative is part of the “ Women Driving Change ” project and started with a first generation made up of nine women who will begin their automotive technical training at the CEDVA Group Educational Center.

The program includes six months of training: two months of theoretical and practical training and four months of professional internships accompanied by Scania specialists .

The goal is to increase female representation in technical and specialized positions within an industry facing transformations related to electromobility, digitalization, and the decarbonization of transport.

The project has technical and financial support from the develoPPP program, promoted by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), in addition to the participation of Pro Sociedad and Grupo CEDVA.

Johanna Wysluch, director of the Cities and Transport project at GIZ, pointed out that the future of transport will depend on the sector’s ability to attract and develop diverse talent, and therefore considered that specialized training for women contributes to reducing participation gaps in an activity historically dominated by men.

The curriculum includes 32 training modules . Of these, seven focus on technical knowledge related to automotive mechanics, and 25 are part of a career development plan. In addition, participants will receive introductory training in electromobility and 10 courses focused on social-emotional skills.

Alejandro Mondragón, president and CEO of Scania Mexico, highlighted that the technological evolution of transportation demands increasingly specialized profiles, particularly given the advancement of electric vehicles, diagnostic systems and solutions geared towards sustainability.

Once the training is completed, the participants will have a career plan and will be linked with job opportunities within companies in the transport sector, with the support of Scania and the organizations involved in the project.

The initiative adds to the efforts that various companies and organizations have promoted in recent years to increase female participation in an industry where the presence of women continues to be a minority, particularly in operational and technical areas.

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El cargo Scania and GIZ promote technical training for women in heavy transport apareció primero en T21.

The water crisis, the energy transition, and electromobility cannot be analyzed separately. This was the argument put forward by Yolanda Villegas, CEO of Oleum and president of the Mexican Association of Storage, Electrification, and Mobility (AMAEM) , during the webinar “Water, Energy Transition, and Electromobility ,” organized by the Secretariat of Economic Development of Tamaulipas.

In her presentation, the specialist warned that water has become one of the main global risks to human survival and argued that Mexico faces increasing pressure stemming from climate change, industrial expansion, and the rise in energy demand.

“Instead of calling ourselves planet Earth, we should call ourselves planet water,” he said.

Villegas González emphasized that the water problem is not only due to the physical scarcity caused by reduced rainfall, but also to an “economic scarcity” related to the lack of infrastructure to bring water to different communities.

In this context, he explained that Mexico faces an unequal distribution of the resource: while the north and center of the country concentrate the greatest industrial and economic activity, much of the available water is located in the south.

He pointed out that the country requires comprehensive water management that considers not only the extraction of the resource, but also its environmental, social and economic impacts.

He also raised the need to explore new technologies for water supply, such as the so-called “ultra-deep underground mega-basins” , a model that seeks to take advantage of water reserves located between three thousand and five thousand meters deep.

According to the speaker, these types of solutions could represent less invasive alternatives than large dams or desalination plants, as they require less infrastructure, less development time, and less environmental impact.

The energy transition is no longer optional.

Villegas warned that the increase in global energy demand continues to drive the use of fossil fuels and, with it, the increase in polluting emissions and global temperature.

He explained that the energy sector currently generates more than 73% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions , so he considered it urgent to accelerate the shift towards clean energy.

During the webinar , he defined the energy transition as the gradual process by which economies migrate from a matrix based on fossil fuels to one based on renewable energies, electrification and clean technologies.

Among the pillars of this transition he mentioned decarbonization, energy decentralization, digitalization and democratization of access to energy.

The specialist highlighted that Mexico has strategic advantages for this transformation thanks to its solar, wind and hydroelectric potential, particularly in states like Tamaulipas .

However, he also defended the use of fossil fuels and nuclear energy as part of an orderly transition strategy.

“There are countries that continue to use oil, coal, and gas while urging emerging economies to stop. Mexico must take advantage of its energy resources while developing new technologies,” he argued.

Electromobility

Another key topic was electromobility, which, according to Villegas González, will transform the transport industry in the coming decades.

He noted that by 2030, up to 50% of the world’s vehicles could be fully or partially electric , while by 2040 more than 500 million electric vehicles would be on the road globally.

In the case of Mexico, he highlighted the growth of the electric automotive industry and the country’s potential as a producer of auto parts.

“Electromobility doesn’t just mean buying electric vehicles; it requires charging infrastructure, regulation, tax incentives, training, and smarter electrical grids,” he explained.

He also highlighted the progress of cities like Mexico City in incorporating electric buses into public transport, although he acknowledged that there are still significant regulatory and infrastructure challenges.

Among them, he mentioned the lack of public charging stations , the absence of regulation for the final disposal of batteries, the need for safety protocols for fires in electric vehicles, insufficient tax incentives and poor legislative coordination.

The expert insisted that the energy transition will depend largely on political will and the ability of governments to promote clear public policies.

“Public policy is fundamental. Without it there will be no regulation, incentives, or implementation,” he stated.

He also stressed that the State must maintain a leading role in energy, environmental and water issues to guarantee energy security, food security and access to water.

Villegas González argued that sustainable mobility begins with a cultural shift and a change in transportation habits, prioritizing efficient public systems, sustainable infrastructure, and less polluting technologies.

“The goal is not only to electrify vehicles, but to build more efficient, resilient and sustainable cities ,” he stressed.

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El cargo Water, energy transition and electromobility: the challenges that will shape Mexico’s sustainable future apareció primero en T21.

JIUTEPEC, MOR.- The path to cleaner mobility in Mexico no longer depends solely on available technology, but also on the ability to coordinate public policies, territorial planning, and logistical operations. This was evident in the dialogue between authorities, institutions, and industry during the 4th Sustainable Mobility and Technology Meeting, organized by the  National Association of Private Transportation (ANTP) .

The dialogue table, made up of Fabiola Olivares, from the Ministry of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development (Sedatu) ; Alejandro Villegas, coordinator of Policy Liaison of the Megalopolis Environmental Commission (CAMe) ; Luis Campos, director of Logistics at Grupo Bimbo , under the moderation of Leonardo Gómez, executive president of the ANTP , put on the table a structural challenge: while the pressure to reduce emissions advances, the operational conditions of transport —from the lack of infrastructure to urban complexity— continue to set the real pace of the transition.

From a regulatory standpoint, experts explained, updating standards remains a key priority. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) is working on revising key standards such as NOM-042 for light vehicles, as well as implementing cleaner technologies in the trucking industry .

In that regard, specialists noted that from 2025 onwards, new vehicles must comply with stricter standards such as Euro 6 or EPA 10 , which will allow for a reduction of up to 80% in some pollutants, particularly nitrogen oxides and compounds associated with poor air quality.

However, they made it clear that the transition is not limited to the vehicle itself. It also involves changes in logistics, training, and operational efficiency, including the use of more efficient tires, aerodynamic improvements, and programs like Clean Transportation, in which companies in the sector are already actively participating.

Beyond technology , territorial planning is emerging as a determining factor. Fabiola Olivares emphasized that the country has sufficient regulatory tools, but the challenge lies in their implementation.

Experts commented that land management is key to enabling spaces such as loading bays, rest areas, and electric vehicle charging points —elements that are not yet fully integrated into cities. Furthermore, the lack of these spaces directly impacts efficiency: a delivery vehicle can spend between 20% and 25% of its time simply looking for a place to load or unload, highlighting the urgent need for urban reorganization.

Alejandro Villegas warned that transportation remains one of the main sources of pollutants in the central region of the country. In the megalopolis, he said, this sector can contribute up to 76% of nitrogen oxides and 83% of carbon monoxide, placing it at the heart of the environmental strategy.

Since its inception, sustainability has been an integral part of Grupo Bimbo’s business strategy. The company emphasized that its approach is based on three pillars: people, community, and the environment. Regarding the latter, the company is making progress in reducing its environmental footprint through clean energy, a circular economy, water management, and regenerative agriculture . Currently, it boasts one of the largest electric fleets in the region, with thousands of vehicles in operation.

The accumulated experience shows that electrification is viable, although it requires infrastructure, planning, and sound financial models.

Last mile, an unresolved issue

During the discussion, the experts also highlighted the last mile as one of the most critical issues . They explained that this is where a large portion of the logistics costs and a significant portion of emissions are concentrated. Throughout the panel, the consensus was that the tools exist, but the challenge lies in their implementation.

The transition to sustainable mobility will not be immediate or uniform. It requires aligning regulation, infrastructure, technology, and operations in an environment where cities are growing, demand is increasing, and environmental requirements are becoming stricter.

In this scenario, coordination between authorities, industry, and transport users is emerging as the factor that will define how quickly—and how orderly—the sector will advance.

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El cargo Greener mobility in Mexico requires greater coordination and a comprehensive strategy apareció primero en T21.