The growing industrial activity in northern Mexico continues to drive investments related to the transportation and distribution of commercial vehicles.

In that context, MAGMA Automotive Mexico , the exclusive distributor of Dongfeng for commercial vehicles, opened new dealerships in Saltillo and Torreón, in Coahuila , the company reported in a statement.

The new facilities are located in the Saltillo Industrial Park in Ramos Arizpe and the Las Américas Industrial Park in Torreón , two areas with a high concentration of manufacturing and logistics operations. According to the company, these locations allow for direct access to industrial corridors and routes used for the movement of goods in the region.

Coahuila has established itself as one of the country’s main manufacturing hubs, particularly in the automotive industry, where a significant network of suppliers and assembly plants generates a constant flow of freight transport. Meanwhile, Torreón maintains a key role as a connection point between northern, central, and Bajío regions of Mexico.

Philipp Heldt, general manager of MAGMA Automotive Mexico, noted that the openings respond to the need to strengthen the brand’s presence in strategic regions for the mobility of goods and passengers.

“These openings respond to the need to be closer to our customers in key logistics regions. The north of the country is fundamental for the transport of goods and passengers,” he stated.

The new dealerships will offer commercial vehicles, including pickups, vans, and light and medium trucks, as well as after-sales services, maintenance, spare parts, and technical support backed by the brand’s national distribution center .

With this expansion, Dongfeng strengthens its presence in one of the country’s most dynamic industrial regions, where manufacturing and logistics activity continues to demand transportation solutions for the mobility of goods and products.

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In that regard, Miguel Ceballos, Director of Communications for Stellantis Mexico, highlighted the significance of the announcement within the industrial transformation process that the group is undergoing, which today includes 14 brands and concentrates one of its most important production platforms in North America in the country.

“For Stellantis, Mexico is a strategic point within our global network. From here we manufacture vehicles that reach different markets around the world, and we do so with the talent of our people and with a firm commitment to quality and sustainability,” he said.

For his part, Carlos Meymar, director of the RAM brand in Mexico , commented that the RAM 1500 is once again being assembled in Mexico after two and a half years without local production, strengthening the company’s presence in the Light Duty segment .

“We are very pleased to announce that the RAM 1500 is returning to be made in Mexico, and not only that: it will be made in Mexico and for Mexico. Proudly made in Saltillo,” the executive stated during the presentation.

The new RAM 1500 Tradesman , the first model assembled on this line, will be offered with two engine configurations:

• 3.0 liter I6 Hurricane SO Twin Turbo 4×4, with 420 horsepower and 469 lb-ft of torque.
• 3.6-liter V6 24V VVT eTorque, with 305 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 269 lb-ft at 4,800 rpm, available in 4×2 and 4×4 versions.

The unit incorporates more than 10 active and passive safety systems , steel wheels and off-road tires, plus an 8.4-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

It also has a cargo volume of 1.5 cubic meters and a load capacity ranging from 820 to 912 kilograms (depending on the powertrain configuration), Meymar said.

RAM 1200 2026: More capacity and efficiency

During the event, the 2026 RAM 1200 was also unveiled , featuring a redesign focused on performance and versatility. Highlights include a new 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 217 horsepower and 288 lb-ft of torque , four-wheel disc brakes, electric power steering , and two new versions: the chassis cab and the Big Horn 4×4 , expanding the options for customers who require off-road capability.

“We updated everything that you can’t see, but you can feel while riding. We improved the engines, the transmissions, and the handling precision. The 1200 is now more efficient, safer, and more comfortable,” Meymar noted.

With a payload capacity of 1,200 kilograms and a towing capacity of up to three tons, the pickup truck aims to maintain its position as a benchmark in its segment. Its starting price is 449,000 pesos for the chassis cab version.

Mexican manufacturing for a global market

The Saltillo plant will manufacture the RAM 1500 primarily for the Mexican, U.S., and Canadian markets. Víctor Medina, Plant Manager of the Saltillo Derramadero Complex, reported that the facilities were expanded to accommodate the new Light Duty production line , with an installed capacity of 163,000 units per year and a technological investment that positions it as one of the most modern in North America.

The industrial launch was completed in just 18 months, reaching five thousand units produced and preparing to operate with two production shifts and more than two thousand direct and six thousand indirect jobs.

The operation also reflects a change in the composition of its workforce: currently, 40% of the staff working at the plant are women . Medina emphasized that this diversity strengthens production processes and the culture of innovation within the complex.

The Saltillo Light Duty plant also incorporates a seat assembly line , becoming the first Stellantis plant in North America to integrate this process into its own production chain.

The complex covers 167,000 square meters and the integration of the seating line positions Mexico as a benchmark in advanced manufacturing within Stellantis.

“It is one of the first plants in North America to launch a seat assembly line. In Europe it started seven months ago, but here at the Saltillo complex we are the first to do it in the region,” he explained.

For his part, Carlos Otero, Service Manager of Mopar Mexico , presented the technical support network that supports the operations of the new pickups.

“At Mopar we have a presence throughout the country, with more than 172 service points and 100 trained technicians from Mérida to Tijuana,” he explained.

He added that the division offers service contracts, scheduled maintenance, and extended warranties of up to six years or 120,000 kilometers, as well as specific programs for fleets.

“If you have a fleet, we support you. It doesn’t matter if you’re a big business owner or a small entrepreneur; we’re here to help you,” he said.

He highlighted the importance of after-sales service within the group’s comprehensive strategy.

“Our sales colleagues serve the customers, but at Mopar we keep them as part of the family. We have comprehensive solutions for fleet owners and certified bodybuilders, with a factory warranty,” he emphasized.

With this industrial expansion and the integration of a national service network, Stellantis strengthens the production and technical support of its commercial vehicles, consolidating Mexico’s participation in its manufacturing strategy for North America.

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The booming growth of the industrial real estate market in northern Mexico, driven by the relocation of production lines (nearshoring) , has led sectors such as diverse manufacturing and the automotive industry to seek to establish themselves in Saltillo, Coahuila, and Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua.

According to a statement from CBRE , a consultancy in office and industrial real estate spaces, in the metropolitan area of ​​Saltillo, these industries added more than 92 thousand square meters (m2 ⁾ of gross absorption or commercialized spaces during the second quarter of 2024 .

The continued demand for space, as well as the delivery of pre-leased buildings, brought the quarterly net absorption to 134 thousand m2 ^, with the half-yearly accumulation reaching 300 thousand m2 ^. The Ramos Arizpe submarket remains the most dynamic in the city, concentrating 60% of the demand during the first half of the year .

The Saltillo industrial market ended the first half of the year with an inventory of 4.69 million m2 ^and the new supply accumulated more than 292 thousand m2 ^during the first half of 2024. Of the total new spaces delivered, only 10 thousand m2 ^were integrated into the available inventory.

At the end of the second quarter of the year, Saltillo’s inventory registered an increase of 125 thousand m2 ^, closing with 4.7 million m2 and an annual increase of 12.6 percent. The Ramos Arizpe industrial corridor continues to dominate the market, as it represents 66% of the total existing inventory, 82% of the new supply delivered and 56% of the current construction activity.

These figures have been driven by the creation of new formal jobs at the end of May, which in Coahuila was 21 thousand positions, according to the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) , which has placed this state in sixth place nationwide in this matter.

Another indicator is the increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), which totaled more than 921.4 million dollars (mdd) in 2023 in various projects, according to the Ministry of Economy. This amount represented 2.6% of the national total, as well as an annual increase of 5.6 percent.

Diverse manufacturing is positioned as the industrial sector with the highest demand in Saltillo and its metropolitan area at the end of the second quarter of 2024; it was followed by the automotive manufacturing sector with an additional 36 thousand m² of demand.

Regarding the country of origin of these investments, the United States (43%), Canada (20%) and China (19%) lead in gross demand.

Demand for industrial parks in Ciudad Juárez on the rise

Demand for such spaces has also grown in Ciudad Juárez; in the second quarter of 2024 alone, it closed with 15,000 m² of net absorption and accumulated so far this year of 226,700 m², which meant the second largest mid-year net absorption ever recorded.

In the same quarter of this year, it closed with 445 thousand square meters of space under construction, of which 315 thousand m² are speculative.

Completed projects accounted for the majority of absorption in the reference period, although while new vacant inventory has been delivered and more space is being built, the market remained tight as most leasing is occurring within new construction .

There is limited second-generation space available and activity outside of renovations is minimal, plus there are 31 speculative buildings available or under construction across the city.

Industrial demand for market space is in the size range of 3,700 m2 ^to 28,000 m2 ^, and electronics and electrical and medical equipment manufacturing are almost 50% of the demand, driven by nearshoring .

To foster dialogue on the opportunities presented by nearshoring , Grupo T21 will organize the Transportation and Logistics Meeting (ETYL) on October 9 and 10 in Nuevo León. With the central theme “Maximizing logistics opportunities with nearshoring ,” this event will bring together important industry leaders in Mexico.

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