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.

In the framework of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of Fundemex , the social arm of the Business Coordinating Council (CCE) , the  panel Challenges and alliances to promote employment and shared prosperity was held . Business leaders and representatives of key sectors discussed the challenges and opportunities that Mexico faces to promote innovation, labor inclusion and sustainable economic development.

In this space,  Teresa Gutiérrez, CEO of Tesla Mexico , began her participation by highlighting the importance of innovation as a central axis for economic growth ; however, she noted that Mexico’s potential in this area is far from being fully exploited.

“We are the 12th largest economy in the world, but we are ranked 58th in terms of innovation. This speaks to an urgent need to invest more in this area,” he said.

Gutiérrez also stressed that personalization and the use of data are essential in interacting with consumers.

“Data is the new gold, and companies must learn to take advantage of it. To do this, we need skilled talent. Today, the best is barely good enough,” he said.

Monica Flores, president of ManpowerGroup , described as shameful the fact that more than 50% of jobs in Mexico belong to the informal sector.

In his view, tackling this problem requires a multi-factor approach that includes education, certifications and regional strategies.

“Reducing informality is not a technical problem, but rather a problem of will. We have little time to act, but with continuous training, certifications and a focus on digital skills, we can achieve significant change,” he said.

Flores pointed out that the future of employment depends not only on technical knowledge, but also on soft skills and the ability to adapt to a globalized market.

For her part, Altagracia Gómez, coordinator of the Advisory Council for Regional Development and Business Relocation, addressed the importance of inclusion in financing and the need to attract foreign investment, without neglecting national investment.

“If we want a more inclusive capital market, we must break down traditional barriers, especially for women and small businesses. This requires not only will, but also clear and sustainable metrics,” she explained.

Gómez also stressed the importance of promoting energy efficiency measures and dual education programs that link academia, government and business.

Finally, Julio Carranza, president of the Mexican Banking Association (ABM) , stressed that financial inclusion is essential for economic development. However, he pointed out that 50% of transactions under 500 pesos in Mexico are still made in cash, which limits the digitalization and formalization of the economy.

“We are concerned about attracting foreign investment, but we forget that national investment is 11 times greater. That is where we must focus our efforts to foster growth,” said Carranza.

The banking leader also highlighted the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Mexican economy, noting that their strengthening is key to combating informality and promoting more equitable prosperity.

Two decades of promoting a more just and equitable Mexico

On November 20, Fundemex , the social arm of the Business Coordinating Council (CCE) , commemorated two decades of tireless work to build a more just and equitable Mexico.

“Today we are not only celebrating the achievements of these 20 years, but we are also renewing our commitment to continue transforming lives and communities with the power of the business sector,” said Jorge López, President of the Board of Directors of Fundemex.

Since its founding, Fundemex has worked to connect the country’s social needs with the dynamism of the business sector , channeling resources towards high-impact projects.

In 2022, the organization adopted new approaches that strengthened its mission, such as flagship initiatives such as Transformative Employment , Emplea Diversidad , among others.

The event also highlighted the importance of great results when companies commit to social causes.

An important pillar of Fundemex has been its ability to articulate strategic alliances between companies, communities, civil society and government .

These alliances have made it possible to address local problems with effective solutions , including training programs for vulnerable groups, employment initiatives and regional development projects.

During the celebration, Luis Miguel Pando, Rolando Vega, Alberto Núñez and Martha Smith were recognized for their outstanding work throughout Fundemex’s 20 years.

“The unequal and disproportionate generation of wealth has been a call to find a way to reverse this trend; there are many challenges and opportunities to do so. Mexico has an economy open to the world and an active community, and industry has an important role in the change,” said Martha Smith, founder and advisor of Fundemex.

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El cargo THE CHALLENGE OF LABOR INCLUSION, PROSPERITY AND INNOVATION IN MEXICO; FUNDEMEX CELEBRATES 20 YEARS apareció primero en T21.

The growing geopolitical tension between China and the United States is leading many companies to reconfigure their supply chains , opting for nearshoring in Mexico as a key strategy to ensure the continuity and efficiency of their production, Ernesto Chacón, general manager of T21, told T21. Fictiv Mexico .

Mexico’s manufacturing capacity , along with its proximity to the United States , places it as a key destination for attracting investments and industrial projects. In this context, Fictiv , a company with more than 10 years in the development of prototypes and manufacturing of mechanical products, decided to expand its presence in Mexico as part of its strategy to strengthen its global manufacturing network.

“The need for growth is aligned with a Mexico that has a lot of knowledge and many bases to operate as we do in other parts of the world,” said Ernesto Chacón.

In that sense, the company established a “center of operational excellence” in Monterrey , Nuevo León, and expanded its presence in Tijuana, focusing on key processes such as machining, plastic injection and metal working.

These centers will take advantage of the industrial clusters that exist in Mexico , with the aim of managing the supply chain for global clients such as Tesla , Apple and General Motors .

According to Chacón, the company’s digital platform allows its clients to obtain quotes for mechanical parts in less than 10 minutes , which considerably speeds up development times.

“Our competitive advantage lies in the speed and precision of our supply chain, and that is something our customers value greatly,” Chacón commented.

For the general manager of Fictiv, the growing demand for nearshoring by global corporations forces companies to offer fast and efficient solutions in an increasingly competitive manufacturing environment.

“Mexico is prepared to be a main player in this new era of global manufacturing,” said Chacón.

He indicated that speed has become a determining factor for nearshoring in Mexico . Reducing manufacturing times is key for many companies seeking to optimize their operations.

“Instead of the 16 to 22 weeks that mold manufacturing can take in other markets, in Mexico this process can be reduced to only eight to 12 weeks in our company,” said Chacón.

This represents a significant advantage for companies seeking to improve their response times in an increasingly demanding global environment.

It is important to mention that Grupo T21 will organize the Transportation and Logistics Meeting (ETYL) on October 9 and 10 in Monterrey, Nuevo León. The event will focus on the topic Maximizing logistics opportunities with nearshoring and will feature the participation of prominent leaders of this industrial trend in Mexico. 

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El cargo Nearshoring and Geopolitical Tensions Boost Manufacturing in Mexico apareció primero en T21.

Given the announcement by Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla , to pause the installation of the Gigafactory in Santa Catarina, Nuevo León, the National Auto Parts Industry (INA) reacted through a press release, indicating the robust growth it is experiencing the auto parts sector in North America.

Regarding Tesla’s decision, the INA expressed in its statement that “it is necessary to emphasize that at all times it has been and continues to be a project. The eventual realization of business decisions will depend on specific conditions, such as the behavior of demand for electric vehicles worldwide, as well as the market share that each company has in an increasingly competitive environment.”

The INA stressed that the auto parts industry in North America is experiencing exceptional growth and in Mexico there was a historic production that is expected to exceed 126 billion dollars (mdd) by the end of 2024, maintaining the country as the fourth largest global producer and the main supplier in the United States.

Regarding the integration of the supply chain in North America, they assured that it is evident in the significant US investment in the auto parts sector in Mexico.

According to the INA statement, between 1994 and June 2024, the United States invested in 391 auto parts companies in Mexico , which represents 33% of the total foreign investments in this sector during that time. By comparison, Japan, the next largest investor, contributed 16 percent.

Likewise, for the National Auto Parts Industry, the robustness of the supply chain in North America and Mexico is not based on specific events or external decisions, but on the competitiveness and strength of both countries. Mexico plays a key role in the competitiveness of the United States, and vice versa.

Regarding electric vehicles , Mexico already has more than 100 suppliers that send components to companies in California such as Tesla, Arizona and Illinois.

In this context, the INA reaffirmed the continuity of North America as an integrated, competitive and promising region for auto parts companies on both sides of the border.

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El cargo National Auto Parts Industry reacts to Tesla’s project pause in Nuevo León apareció primero en T21.

After months of speculation about the installation of the  Tesla Gigafactory in Santa Catarina, Nuevo León, this Tuesday in the conference with analysts, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, gave clarity about this investment and anticipated that it will be put on pause.

“I think we have to see what happens with the election (in the United States). Trump has said that he may impose tariffs on vehicles produced in Mexico. So it doesn’t make sense to invest a lot in Mexico if that’s going to happen,” Musk said during the conference.

Through his social network, X (formerly Twitter), Musk has openly expressed his support for the Republican candidate for the presidency of the United States, Donald Trump; while being very critical of the former Democratic candidate, Joe Biden, and the now virtual candidate Kamala Harris.

In March 2023, precisely through – Monterrey) for installation. This Gigafactory was planned to begin activity from 2026 in a model that was yet to be announced.

This story repeats itself with the installation of an automotive plant with the arrival of Trump. In 2017, when the Republican candidate assumed the presidency of the United States, the pressures on the American automotive industry motivated Ford to abandon an investment in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, for 1,600 million dollars, and where part of this investment, 700 million dollars, was channeled into a plant in Michigan to produce electric and autonomous vehicles.

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El cargo Tesla puts Gigafactory in Nuevo León on hold due to Trump’s announcements apareció primero en T21.